Access to Asia

Create meaningful relationships that translate to better business
 
Access to Asia presents a deeply insightful framework for today's global business leaders and managers, whether traveling from Toronto to Taipei, Baltimore to Bangalore, or San Francisco to Shanghai. Drawing from her extensive experience and global connections, author Sharon Schweitzer suggests that irrespective of their industry, everyone is essentially in the relationship business. Within Asia, building trust and inspiring respect are vital steps in developing business relationships that transcend basic contractual obligations. Readers will find in-the-trenches advice and stories from 80 regional experts in 10 countries, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Korea.
* Discover the unique eight-question framework that provides rich interview material and insight from respected cultural experts
* Track cultural progress over time and highlight areas in need of improvement with the Self-Awareness Profile
* Learn the little-known facts, reports, and resources that help establish and strengthen Asian business relationships
 
Effective cross-cultural communication is mandatory for today's successful global business leaders. For companies and individuals looking to engage more successfully with their counterparts in Asia, Access to Asia showcases the critical people skills that drive global business success.

List of contents

Foreword xv
 
About the Authors xvii
 
Acknowledgments xix
 
Introduction xxi
 
A Journey of Passion xxii
 
From Etiquette to Intercultural Exchange xxii
 
A Questioning Framework xxiii
 
Why These Asian Countries? xxiii
 
How This Book Is Structured xxiv
 
Self-Awareness Profiles xxiv
 
Business Is Relationships xxv
 
From Theory to Practice xxv
 
Chapter 1 A Question of Culture 1
 
Why This? Why Now? 6
 
Who Are "Americans"? 7
 
Chapter 2 Exploring Country Cultures 9
 
Thinking Is Not Universal 11
 
Relationships Are Dynamic 12
 
Chapter 3 United States of America 27
 
Introduction 28
 
Quiz 28
 
Country Basics 29
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 34
 
Eight-Question Framework 43
 
Cultural Summary 52
 
Self-Awareness Profile 52
 
The Journey Continues . . . 53
 
Chapter 4 Overview of Concepts and Terms 55
 
Chapter 5 China 67
 
Introduction 68
 
Quiz 69
 
Country Basics 69
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 75
 
Eight-Question Framework 84
 
Cultural Summary 93
 
Self-Awareness Profile 93
 
Chapter 6 Hong Kong 97
 
Introduction 98
 
Quiz 99
 
Country Basics 99
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 104
 
Eight-Question Framework 113
 
Cultural Summary 120
 
Self-Awareness Profile 121
 
Chapter 7 India 123
 
Introduction 124
 
Quiz 125
 
Country Basics 125
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 131
 
Eight-Question Framework 139
 
Cultural Summary 147
 
Self-Awareness Profile 147
 
Chapter 8 Japan 151
 
Introduction 152
 
Quiz 153
 
Country Basics 153
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 159
 
Eight-Question Framework 167
 
Cultural Summary 177
 
Self-Awareness Profile 177
 
Chapter 9 Malaysia 181
 
Introduction 182
 
Quiz 182
 
Country Basics 183
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 188
 
Eight-Question Framework 198
 
Cultural Summary 205
 
Self-Awareness Profile 206
 
Chapter 10 Myanmar 209
 
Introduction 210
 
Quiz 211
 
Country Basics 211
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 217
 
Eight-Question Framework 225
 
Cultural Summary 233
 
Self-Awareness Profile 233
 
Chapter 11 The Philippines 237
 
Introduction 238
 
Quiz 239
 
Country Basics 239
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 245
 
Eight-Question Framework 252
 
Cultural Summary 258
 
Self-Awareness Profile 259
 
Chapter 12 Singapore 261
 
Introduction 262
 
Quiz 262
 
Country Basics 263
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 269
 
Eight-Question Framework 276
 
Cultural Summary 282
 
Self-Awareness Profile 283
 
Chapter 13 South Korea 285
 
Introduction 286
 
Quiz 287
 
Country Basics 287
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 293
 
Eight-Question Framework 303
 
Cultural Summary 309
 
Self-Awareness Profile 310
 
Chapter 14 Taiwan 313
 
Introduction 314
 
Quiz 315
 
Country Basics 315
 
Business Culture, Etiquette, and Customs 321
 
Eight-Question Framework 329
 
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About the author

SHARON SCHWEITZER, JD, is an intercultural consultant and international etiquette expert to current and future leaders within Global 2000 and Fortune 50 companies. As the founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, her work and travels have taken her to all seven continents and over 60 countries. She has over 20 years' experience providing consulting and training to more than 100,000 attorneys and corporate executives in law firms and global corporations. Sharon's law practice, during her earlier years as an employment attorney, involved cultural dynamics between employees and management. She has delivered presentations and workshops for Charles University, Prague; The Ohio State University; and The University of Texas at Austin. Sharon speaks French and some Czech. She is a popular radio and TV guest as well as a sought-after conference speaker, columnist, and blogger. Connect with her at www.sharonschweitzer.com.
LIZ ALEXANDER, PhD, is the multiple awards-winning author of 15 books and acts as book strategist and consulting co-author to business leaders, entrepreneurs, and consultants worldwide. She is also co-founder of boutique consulting firm Leading Thought, directing her gifts and passion to helping aspiring thought leaders harness strategically valuable, actionable insights to grow their businesses and boost revenue. She can be reached at [e-mail].

Summary

Create meaningful relationships that translate to better business Access to Asia presents a deeply insightful framework for today's global business leaders and managers, whether traveling from Toronto to Taipei, Baltimore to Bangalore, or San Francisco to Shanghai.

Report

Kirkus *starred review* This outstanding guidebook plies the cultural waters of Asia and offers insider tips for developing successful business relationships.
 
Intercultural consultant Schweitzer and consultant/author Alexander (# Thought Leadership Tweet, 2012, etc.) have crafted an invaluable reference guide that is comprehensive and fascinating. Using a consistent approach, the authors offer details about 10 countries, including a historical overview, the names of heroes and sports figures, foods, business protocols, etiquette for socializing, and more. Each chapter also has an ingenious "self-awareness profile," a simple one-to-six scale so the reader can gauge the nuances of certain cultural aspects. The authors map the scale to"the prevailing cultural preference"; in the case of doing business in Japan, for example, the cultural tendency is to be "highly formal" (six on the scale) rather than "very informal" (one on the scale). The ranking provides key intelligence to a businessperson in light of his or her own cultural bias. Interestingly, the authors begin with an overview of the United States of America, both to demonstrate the book's framework as it relates to the subsequent countries and to offer guidance to readers who might wish to do business in the USA. The remainder of the book covers China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The insights offered could only be the result of a deep understanding of each country's cultural attributes, so to validate the content, the authors wisely called upon numerous country experts, who are acknowledged in the back of the book. Details both broad and specific paint a rich, unique picture of each country. Readers learn, for instance, that in China, "decisions are made as a group rather than individually." In Japan, "gifts (omiyage, or honorable presents) are a crucial element and expected on almost all business occasions." In the Philippines, personal hygiene is vital because "Filipinos shower several times a day."
 
Beautifully constructed and expertly written in straightforward language; will make it far easier for anyone to navigate the cultural differences of doing business in Asia.

Product details

• Authors: Liz Alexander, Sharon Schweitzer, Sharon Alexander Schweitzer, Schweitzer Sharon, Bob Waisfisz
• Assisted by: Bob Waisfisz (Foreword), Waisfisz Bob (Foreword)
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.05.2015
• EAN: 9781118919019
• ISBN: 978-1-118-91901-9
• No. of pages: 400
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 235 mm x 33 mm
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management; BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Marketing / General, Ratgeber Wirtschaft, Business & management, Sales and marketing, Wirtschaft u. Management, Business Self-Help, Wirtschaft /Ratgeber