International business: cultural differences and how to cope with them
             Organizations around the world are reaching out beyond their domestic markets to become international players. This development is a challenge for all of us who will be working in different countries all over the globe. Altough the word has become a global village, cultural differences prevail and their influence on business has to be taken into account. We have to be able to understand different customs, values and attitudes and try to overcome cross-cultural barriers.
             Understanding and heeding cultural variables is one of the most significant aspects of being successful in any international business endeavor. A lack of familiarity with the business practices, social customs, and etiquette of a country can weaken a company's position in the market, prevent it from accomplishing its objectives, and ultimately lead to failure.
             Although each culture is unique and very complex, it is possible to distinguish three main cultural types:
             ü Seek individuality and independence
             ü Dependence on others is seen as weakness
             ü Conformity is expected to a certain degree
             ü E.g. U.S.A., Canada, Australia, most parts of Western and Northern Europe
             ü Seek harmony, homogeneity, conformity
             ü Stabilty within groups is important
             ü E.g. most parts of Asia (China, Japan, Korea..)
             ü Honour, respect and loyalty to leaders are very important
             ü Status-conscious: Individual is determined by membership in a certain class, tribe, clan or family
             ü E.g. Southern Europe (Spain, Italy), South America, Africa, Middle East
             Business can only be successful if we learn to adapt to these cultural differences. This process involves identifying certain cultural patterns and trying to respect them:
             Autonomy Cultures Consensus Cultures Status Cultures
             Pragmatic, task-focused, driven by quick resultsJ Be flexible, decisive, ...