Companies undertaking Importing/Exporting in foreign markets need to understand the differences in foreign business customs, values and ethical behavior to effectively operate in overseas markets. Too often Companies ignore Cultural differences creating problems and lost opportunities

Cultural variations affect All aspects of a Company's International Business Surviving and achieving business success in foreign markets means accepting and adapting to the local culture within the foreign market.

Characteristics of Culture Culture is the set of: values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and customs that distinguish a society. A society's culture prescribes the rules, which determine how Companies operate in that society.

Important characteristics of Culture Culture reflects learned behavior that is transmitted from one member to another in society.

The elements of Culture are interrelated and reinforce each other. British Culture is its class system. Australian Culture is very multicultural due to the diversity in nationalities that have origins in foreign cultures.

Culture as learned behavior is adaptive Culture changes in response to external forces that affect society. Urban societies around the world have enormous similarities due to the impact of multinational corporations, technology and tourism.

Culture is shared by members of society and defines the membership of a society. Norms are society's rules or guidelines specifying the appropriate behavior in given situations. All cultures and society's have norms that can be very different to your norms.

Elements of Culture Social Structure Language Communication Religion Values and Attitudes

Social Structures Relationships between different entities or groups Society is divided according to social class Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. In the modern Western context, the division consists of three layers: upper class, middle class, and lower class.upper classmiddle classlower class The most basic class distinction is between the powerful and the powerless

“ It is impossible to understand people's behavior...without the concept of social stratification, because class position has a pervasive influence on almost everything...the clothes we wear...the television shows we watch...the colors we paint our homes in and the names we give our pets... Our position in the social hierarchy affects our health, happiness, and even how long we will live. ” —William Thompson, Joseph Hickey, Society in Focus, 2005

Social structure may be seen to influence important social systems including the economic system,economic system legal system, legal system political system, political system cultural system, cultural system Family, religion, law, economy and class are all social structures Familyreligionlaweconomyclass