Cultural Differences:

Asian Business Customs

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Asia consists of many ancient cultures with diverse religions and philosophies. Despite the definite variations, there are some broad similarities among these interesting peoples that carry (more or less) throughout the huge Asian region.  

 

While human beings in both the east and west (another diverse region) share many attributes but there are also some broad differences.  Some of the more noticeable of these from a business perspective are listed below.  

 

 

Difference 1:
Giving Instructions
 

Westerners - try to be direct and clear in their instructions and comments to others. 
Asians - often suggest their ideas and directives with subtle inferences and commonly use non-verbal clues about their opinions. 
 

 
Difference 2:
Asking Questions

 
Westerners - underlings are expected to ask questions that are explicit and even challenging if they are unsure of their superior’s instructions and purposes. 
Asians – subordinates often consider posing clarifying questions to be intimidating because it might be seen to challenge an authority figure’s command of a situation and risks loss-of-face. 
 

 
Difference 3:
Dealing with Challenges

 
Westerners - think it is best to solve problems directly and quickly with as little emotional fuss as possible. 
Asians – believe the feelings of others are of great importance and spend a lot of time seeming to talk in circles about problems while trying to find a consensual solution without offending anyone. 
 

 
Difference 4:
Authority 

 
Westerners managers - consider often consider themselves part of the team but just happen to be the ones in charge because of specialized skills and greater experience. (Management styles can vary tremendously among individuals.)
Traditional Asians managers - consider themselves secondary father figures to their employees. They give guidance and personal support to employees and expect absolute loyalty and obedience in return. 
 

 
Difference 5:
Office Relationships

 
Westerners – believe that professional relationships with colleagues at work should not become overly personal. 
Asians - desire to form close relationships with the people they work with and often feel offended if others do not reciprocate. 
 

 
Difference 6:
Punctuality

 
Westerners - try to arrive at the designated time and to start meetings without much delay.
Asians - commonly arrive 5 to 7 minutes after a meeting is to begin and then desire to spend another 5 to 10 minutes warming up to the others in the meeting through harmless (but often non-business related) chitchat. 
 

 
Difference 7:
Meaning of YES

 
Westerners - understand “YES” to mean that there is an agreement between people or a commitment to do something. 
Asians - often use the word “YES” to acknowledge that they are listing to what is being said. It does not mean they are in agreement or will do what is being asked.
 

 
Difference 8:
Hierarchies

 
Western society - felt to have a more flattened socio-economic structure with fewer hierarchical levels. Western managers often try to convince staff that “everyone’s opinion counts.” that “we’re all in the same boat” and similar ideas related to the flattening of class structure. 
Asian society - well defined class structure and everyone needs to understand their place within the hierarchy so harmony can be maintained. (Foreigners usually are given a special and somewhat exalted status and can get away with much more than locals.)
 

 
Difference 9:
Reprimanding Staff 

 
Western managers - feel there could be appropriate times when it is necessary to criticize an employee or supplier in public. 
Asian managers - rarely scold their staff or people associated with their business in front of others. 
 

 
Difference 10:
Privacy

 
Westerners – profess that information deemed confidential should remain so under most circumstances. 
Asians - consider it rude and disrespectful if colleagues and friends have secrets that are not shared with the group.
 

 
Difference 11:
Accepting of Others

 
Westerners - often become distressed and angry if commitments are not upheld. 
Asians - are generally more accepting of the imperfections of others -- including those of foreigners. 
 

 
Difference 12:
Personal Status

 
Westerners - publicly claim that worrying about one’s standing in the social pecking order is akin to showing-off and is not important to them. 
Asians - recognize that one’s ranking on the socioeconomic ladder is critical to a person’s career and life advancement. 
  
 

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Media organizations throughout the world call upon the Principals of Chalre Associates for thought leadership.  Below are some examples of published material written by our consultants or international journalists who refer to them.  For a complete list of published work, Click Here.  

 

 

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