Week Three Assignment
Jacob T. Bierbaum
American Military University
BUSN601: Global Management Perspective
May 24, 2015
Abstract
This paper will focus on the four main elements of culture, and how they relate to a business’ international operations. Specifically, it will explain how each cultural element can have an impact on not only a business’ operations, but also on the customer base that said company must pander to in order to successfully market its product. Finally, this paper will emphasize the importance of a culturally sensitive company in today’s increasingly globalized marketplace.
There are many different sub-categories of cultural aspects that can be applied to international business; however, the four main elements of culture are the social, political, beliefs, and economic elements (Gapsar et al, 2014). In an international market …show more content…
This element indicates how a population decides what is generally right and wrong, and this can also bleed into many other parts of a culture. A society’s idea of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior is a major outgrowth of their belief system. In South Korea, Confucianism is a dominating cultural influence, as it is in much of Southeast Asia (Lie, 2012). The belief system is the root of the respect for elders and a strong sense of a social hierarchy within their population, as well. This is key when it comes to advertising to the population, as the marketing of any company must understand the deep-held beliefs of the citizens in order to appeal to them. For example, if a marketing plan includes a commercial that may involve younger people being disrespectful to an elderly person, a teacher, or anyone else held in higher esteem, then this could immediately cause issues with the South Korean populace (Kim, 2015). A belief system in a culture, especially in a country such as South Korea, is key to being able to effectively operate in the
Jacob T. Bierbaum
American Military University
BUSN601: Global Management Perspective
May 24, 2015
Abstract
This paper will focus on the four main elements of culture, and how they relate to a business’ international operations. Specifically, it will explain how each cultural element can have an impact on not only a business’ operations, but also on the customer base that said company must pander to in order to successfully market its product. Finally, this paper will emphasize the importance of a culturally sensitive company in today’s increasingly globalized marketplace.
There are many different sub-categories of cultural aspects that can be applied to international business; however, the four main elements of culture are the social, political, beliefs, and economic elements (Gapsar et al, 2014). In an international market …show more content…
This element indicates how a population decides what is generally right and wrong, and this can also bleed into many other parts of a culture. A society’s idea of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior is a major outgrowth of their belief system. In South Korea, Confucianism is a dominating cultural influence, as it is in much of Southeast Asia (Lie, 2012). The belief system is the root of the respect for elders and a strong sense of a social hierarchy within their population, as well. This is key when it comes to advertising to the population, as the marketing of any company must understand the deep-held beliefs of the citizens in order to appeal to them. For example, if a marketing plan includes a commercial that may involve younger people being disrespectful to an elderly person, a teacher, or anyone else held in higher esteem, then this could immediately cause issues with the South Korean populace (Kim, 2015). A belief system in a culture, especially in a country such as South Korea, is key to being able to effectively operate in the