Exercises Market Leader book page 67

A.    Audio CD.  Jeff Toms is Marketing Director at an international cultural training
Centre. Listen to the first part of the interview and answer the questions.

1 What two factors affect the ‘Middle East clock'?

Two things affect the “Middle East Clock”, the prayer times and weather conditions in the desert

2 What can cause problems for Americans when they do business with Latin cultures?

Time Management, Americans try to end their agenda in short time, while Latin and Chinese people wants know more details of business people.

B.    Listen to the second part of the interview and say what qualities companies should look for when sending staff abroad.

Qualities are:

Adaptability, flexibility, knowledge,

C.    Listen to the final part of the interview and complete the gaps.

I think also one of the key features of the successful International Businessperson is to be non-judgmental. For instance, if you're coming from an Asian culture, to try and do business with
a Western culture, for certain the way that people do things will be fundamentally different, the hierarchy, the structure, the decision-making process, the seniority and the influence of the people you’re doing business with — will be fundamentally different.

D.    If you could be sent anywhere in the world to work, which country would you choose? What aspects of its culture do you particularly like?

I would like to travel to Mexico, I think there is a very interesting culture, friendly people and that is a country with many possibilities for doing business, I would like to know his gastronomy, history and drink a few tequilas. I would like to know the GM factory and work for them.