Gobal Stratiges

Cultural Challenges of Doing Business Overseas

Eric Culp

University of Phoenix

The challenges are many however the rewards are numerous for expansion into the Czech Republic (CR). Business of all types have looked into and had success into this budding capitalist society, but a fixture of the American society like a Chicago style pizza restaurant will face many challenges. Steve has had success in the Unites States (US) and now must consider multiple levels of business environment in order to have success n the land of his ancestors. The cultural differences, the business environment and the economic health of the CR will all need to be considered.

The major differences between the US and Czech cultures are that the US has been operating with the same social economic mentality for more than 200 years, the US culture has perfected the idea of capitalism and the Czech culture is still adjusting to the concept. This creates an environment of opportunities for a Chicago style pizza place.

The culture in America is that two income families are the expected norm and that all entertaining must be done with food. The shared cultural value of entertaining with foods exists in both cultures, but pizza in not the traditional food of watching a soccer match like the equivalent football game. Two incomes in each household in the US have created an environment in which both parents cook and in the CR the concept of men cooking in not at all common. The US a man may “cook” buy bringing home a pizza however in the CR this staple of US male domestication has not caught on.

Another difference that has not attached itself to CR society is fast food. The fact that the diet of people in the US is about convenient food and eating on the move is one of the large differences between the two countries. The Czech diet being heavy and time consuming to prepare does however create the opportunity for a pizza restaurant based on the concept of delivery and the convenience offered...