Personal cultural background International Seminar Intercultural Management Competence

Personal cultural background International Seminar Intercultural Management & Competence Building Kinye Yu and Idris Boudaoud

Introduction • Personal and cultural values affect decision making in a person's personal life because they define who the person is and how they will react to different situations. • 2 different cultures : Chinese-American & French… • … 2 different way of working

Chinese-American Culture and Values • Roof over a pig • American – Freedom, Equality, and Independence • “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness” – United States Declaration of Independence • Attitudes – “Work hard, play harder” – Hard work leads to success.

Chinese-American Cultural Awareness • Bi-Cultural Background – Outer Layer (language, food, and tradition) • Working for the UN – Different people and Different culture • Cultural Acceptance - Similarities and Differences • Flexibility.

Chinese-American Cultural Hindrances • Generation X or Y - Self-Motivated (What is in it for me ? ) • Individualism – I like to work alone. • Direct – Blunt • Motivation – How can I succeed? • Fast pace.

French culture and values • Freedom, Equality, Fraternity, • Solidarity (free health assurance/retirement), • Don’t hesitate to fight for rights (strike…), • Cultural background (History, Gastronomy, Literature), • Strong national identity…

French Cultural Awareness • Understand people, social part is essential in French culture, • Separation between business and personal life…

French Cultural Hindrances • Beat around the bush : debate but don’t take any decisions, • Disorganized, • Easygoing, • Never satisfied.

Conclusion American French Direct Beat around the bush Competitiveness Cooperation Universalistic… Particularistic… • To work internationally, you have to deal with other people’s values and to understand it…

Questions ? Thank you!