Global Market

Business Result Advanced

Student’s Book Answer Key

1 │ Connections

Starting point

1, 2

Possible answers

1

2

Cultural awareness is needed if you are doing business with someone from another

culture. Simple rules of etiquette are important so that you don’t appear impolite. For

example:

•

In Japan, people greet each other by bowing.

•

In France, you shouldn’t use the familiar ‘tu’ form, or use first names unless

invited to do so.

•

In America, you might have lunch out of a box during a meeting, and drink a

coffee out of a plastic cup while walking to work. In Italy you would be more

likely to take a visitor for a longer lunch in a nice restaurant, and talk business

over a coffee in a café. Americans are clock-watchers whereas Italians place

more importance on social rapport.

Company culture is influenced by styles of decision-making and by accepted styles of

relationships between management and staff. The culture of the country where a

company is based will determine what these accepted styles are.

Working with words

1

Possible answers

1

2

3

4

5

6

No. Every company has its own way of doing things.

Not necessarily more weight, but body language / gestures communicate meaning

and people also judge others according to how they are dressed, etc.

No. Some cultures are very time-conscious – being on time is very important; in other

cultures it’s less important.

No. Within every culture individuals vary enormously.

Yes. It’s important to be open and accept that there are situations you won’t

necessarily understand.

Yes. It helps you to understand different styles and approaches to business and

enables you to avoid offending business contacts from other cultures.

2

1 Each organization has its own culture, personality, and way of doing things.

2 Noticing how people act, dress, and treat each other can be helpful.

3 Cultures may have totally different concepts of time.

4 Values and behaviour are also influenced by background, experience, and personality.

5 It’s important,...