Central European Business Review 2012, 1(2):46-51 | DOI: 10.18267/j.cebr.17
The Influence of National Culture on American Business People - Managerial Implications for Central Europe
- Gina M. Cook, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Economic, Prague, Department of International Business, Nam. W. Churchilla 4, 130 00, Prague 3, Czech Republic, cook@vse.cz
This text presents some of the fundamental values and traits of American national culture with a focus on their potential effect on the behavior of US business people. The goal of the article is to map potential differences from the habits and norms typical in the Central European region (CEE region), i.e. to identify those which might have an important impact on business activities. Methodologically, the text includes a brief literary review including various different cultural frameworks; the paper then utilizes primarily descriptive and comparative methods, as well as analysis and synthesis, to comprehend the issue in hand. The author complements this input with real-life personal and professional experience gained by working and living in both geographic regions. Finally, the article provides some key managerial implications for executives operating within the CEE environment who potentially conduct business transactions with Americans or US-based organizations.
Keywords: National culture; American business practices
JEL classification: M12, M14
Received: June 21, 2012; Revised: September 1, 2012; Published: September 30, 2012 Show citation
References
- Althen, G., Doran, A. R., Szmania, S. J. (2003). American Ways: A Guide for Foreigners in the United States, 2nd ed. Boston: Intercultural Press. Lanier, A., Davis, J. (2005). Living in the USA, 6th ed. Boston: Intercultural Press.
- Hofstede, G. National Culture Dimensions, "US Country Profile", (accessed 23 July 2012), [available at http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html].
- Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: software of the mind, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Target Map, Knowledge Beyond Borders, "Hofstede's indulgences", (accessed 23 July 2012), [available at http://www.targetmap.com/viewer.aspx?reportId=6693].
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