Intercultural Communication Guide for Foreigners Assignment

Intercultural Communication Guide for Foreigners - Assignment Example This brochure therefore seeks to help you with a guide to intercultural communication so that you may know the American peoples cultural values and norms, the language, negotiation styles, business etiquette and so much more. This brochure will play a key role in preventing miscommunication and misunderstanding during business meetings for you doing business in our country. Cultural values and norms The American people primarily have a western culture through they are also influenced by Asia, African, Native American and Latin American cultures. You should be aware that the U.S is a big and diverse nation that has numerous regions and subcultures accounting for a wide range of cultural norms (Inone, 2007) When it comes to an issue like time, you must be aware that in the US efficiency is considered a virtue. Therefore Americans are usually impatient when things are moving slowly especially when conducting business and more so they expect efficient and rapid service. To many Americans if not all time is money and so it should be saved, valued and used wisely (Yale University, 2012). In addition to this, Americans put a lot of value on punctuality and so if one is unable to reach on time at the business meeting they should call in advance to alert the others that he or she will be late. Reason being, latecomers especially in professional appointments usually risk being turned away. Directness/ Openness You should also be aware that Americans are raised in a manner that they are always open and direct. This may conflict with other cultures that do not like direct confrontation or are reserved (Yale University, 2012). Many Americans may state that one is hiding something if the individual is not honest or open. In the American culture being direct translates to trustworthiness. Nevertheless, there are some areas that Americans are not extremely comfortable being open and that is why, they use constructive criticism. This means that an individual is giving another c onstructive criticism in a manner that will not hurt their feelings or will come out as offensive. Americans use facial expressions when they do not want to speak openly; they will also communicate using gestures or even body position (Yale University, 2012). Competition/Achievement You should note that to be referred to as a high achiever in America is regarded as a compliment as Americans are known to be highly competitive (Yale University, 2012). You are therefore expected to work hard in business so that you may achieve high earnings and rise in social class. Americans usually have a busy schedule as they value action and they have a saying which goes work is a virtue and idleness is a sin. Foreigners are therefore expected to fit in to the busy schedule especially when conducting business as proper usage of time is vital to successful business (Yale University, 2012). Business Etiquette Business etiquette is extremely imperative in whatever part of the world one is in; reason b eing, it can play a huge role in determining the success or failure of a business (Internationabusinesscenter.org. 2012). As a foreigner therefore, doing business here in the US, there is certain business etiquette that is expected. For instance when attending a business meeting, business suits and ties are considered appropriate; for meetings that are formal, men are expected to wear white shirts while women should wear a dress with a jacket or a suit. When it comes to business conversations they can as well occur during meals and business meetings can be arranged as luncheon, breakfast or dinner meetings usually depending on necessity and time schedules

Marketing plan as the main part of the business strategy Essay

Marketing plan as the main part of the business strategy - Essay Example Markets and products have become extremely fragmented. There are hundreds of special-interest magazines, for example, each targeted to a very specific market segment. It's the same with restaurants, cars and retail clothing stores, just to name a few industries. Positioning your product competitively requires an understanding of this fragmented market. Not only must you be able to describe your product, you must also be able to describe your competitor's product and show why yours is better. Positioning your product involves two steps. First, analyze your product's features, and decide how they differentiate your product from its competitors. Second, decide what type of buyer is most likely to purchase your product. Pricing and placement are critical to competitive positioning. In today's marketing culture, pricing cannot be separated from the product. Take grocery stores, for example. The full-service supermarket is still the most popular form of grocery distribution. But today, busy families want faster service and more convenience, even if it means higher prices. As a result, convenience stores, home delivery services, personal shoppers and takeout restaurants have proliferated. At the same time, warehouse grocery retailing has also increased. Warehouse stores cater to customers who prefer low prices to convenience. Describe your target customer. Developing a profile of your target customer is the second step in an effective marketing plan. You can describe customers in terms of demographics-age, sex, family composition, earnings and geographical location-as well as lifestyle. Ask: Are my customers conservative or innovative Leaders or followers Timid or aggressive Traditional or modern Introverted or extroverted How often do they purchase what I offer How much of it at a time Are there peak buying periods or times of the year when people won't buy my product or service Conclusion The simple truth is that the type of ad that pays off immediately will work less and less well the longer you keep running it. And the ad that will make customers think of you immediately when they need what you sell (true branding) usually doesn't begin showing any encouraging results for at least some weeks. These are the ads that will work better and better the longer you keep running them. But most advertisers will cancel these ads after some weeks. The thing to remember when developing your marketing plan is that you're not looking for what works. Every type of advertising works to one degree or another. What you're looking for is the best long-term use of your ad budget. Then you have to develop an advertising message within your marketing plan. The questions you're trying to answer are these: "What do we need to say to the customer and how often do we need to say it And which media will give us the most efficient long-term