BUSN 1101 PFS Paper # 3

Cultural Awareness
Write a 2-3 page paper (minimum 2 full pages, maximum 3 full pages) on cultural awareness.
Please follow the specific directions, in order, for this paper.
Step 1: Discuss three important values you have learned from your family. Discuss how these
values have been shaped by your culture and experiences. Also include how each of these values
has shaped your own perspectives, abilities, and qualities.
Step 2: View the TED Talk by Valerie Hoeks * on YouTube titled Cultural Differences in
Business (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMwjscSCcf0). This video lasts 12 minutes, 17
seconds. Watch the video a second time and take notes.
Step 3: Discuss three important values you have learned about Chinese people. How have these
values been shaped by their culture and experiences. How do these values shape their
perspectives, abilities, and qualities?
Step 4: Finally, discuss the two sets of values and how these would affect business relationships
between the U.S. and China. How can you benefit from these multiple points of view?
*The Valerie Hoeks talks on Chinese culture explore what Westerners can learn from the Chinese. The speaker
studied Sinology at Leiden University. She's been involved in China since 2000 as a traveler, student and
entrepreneur. In 2010 she co-founded China Inroads, which supports innovative companies by providing a foothold
in their expansion to the Chinese market, along with her Dutch and Chinese business partner. Her role as founder
and partner involves creating a bridge between customer needs and the implementation of plans in country. She is
also responsible for the Netherlands China Inroads office in Amsterdam. The Valerie Hoeks talks go into detail
about the things she's learned about Chinese culture and how viewing things from different perspectives can be
beneficial.

Format and Content

See template on the next page
Margins: 1 top, bottom, left and right margins
Include page numbers
Sections
o Title Page
o Narrative/Body - 2-3 pages, double spaced.
Criteria for Assignment
a. Strong awareness of how culture and experience shapes your own perspectives and
capacities.
b. Strong awareness of how culture and experience shapes Chinese perspectives and
capacities.
c. Strong consideration of multiple points of view.
d. Content, writing style, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

CULTURAL AWARENESS
Cultural Differences in Business
Prospect for Success Paper # 3

Submitted to
Dr. Daryl L. Kerr
Department of Management
Belk College of Business
UNC Charlotte

Submitted by
Sahaj Patel
BUSN 1101-001
December 9, 2015

Cultural Awareness PFS Paper # 3

An important value I have learned from my family is responsibility. Responsibility is the
state of being accountable for something or someone. This value has been shaped by my mother,
who continuously teaches me how to take accountability of my day to day activities, including
caring for my younger sister.. The value of responsibility has guided my journey to becoming a
successful adult easier. Being responsible for ones actions requires strong decision-making skills
which will help me later on in all areas of life.
Another value I have acquired from my relatives is independence. This value has been
shaped by my experiences with my father. My father works within the construction management
field and has always been regarded as self-sufficient. This trait has shaped my perspective
slightly about success. Some people say greatness cant be achieved alone. My father doesnt
completely agree with that statement. I have learned from my fathers work that sometimes you
have to finish your own tasks before you can collectively reach your goal.
Lastly, the value that is most prominent in my family is ambition. Ambition is the desire
or drive needed in order to accomplish your goal. This trait has shaped my thinking into what it
is now. Everyone has the drive but not everyone utilizes it effectively. My father always told me
dont finish your work tomorrow, for tomorrow never comes. Ambition, as I have learned from
my father and role models, comes from within. The desire or need to finish is something difficult
to learn and requires patience. This value has shaped my perspective on my own capabilities. I
have learned from this value the true meaning of freedom. Being able to accomplish whatever I
set my mind to has opened my eyes to the world. Ambition is a core value of my mental process
and is the reason I can work as diligently as I do now.

The first value discussed about the Chinese culture was Harmony. Harmony refers to the
preference of flow over force. The Chinese have a lot of patience and sometimes will let
situations unfold themselves. They are not very concerned about an organized schedule.
Everyone is satisfied as long as the job gets done in a tranquil manner. This value completely
changes their perspective on life. Their pace of living is much slower. Harmony allows the
Chinese people to see things with a kind of clarity that is hard to find anywhere else.
Another key aspect of Chinese culture was Face. Face pertains to reputation or status.
The Chinese value social status and ranking. Humiliation in public is considered a really
negative thing in the Chinese social atmosphere. The speaker, Ms. Hoeks, also discusses that
Face can be gained or lost. Chinese students demonstrate Face by keeping an ongoing
relationship with their former instructors. On Sunday afternoons, Chinese boys and girls will
visit their old teachers for tea. This shows that they make an effort to constantly have Face time
in order to have an ongoing relationship.
Finally, the Chinese people appreciate Reciprocal Favor. Reciprocal Favor is the return of
favors for favors. The Chinese philosopher Confucius valued personal and governmental
morality. Equality is a key component of the Chinese culture. A powerful example of this can be
the Ying Yang. The Ying Yang is a circular symbol of equality between two opposing forces
sometimes represented by the moon and the sun. Once again the social reputation is very
important. An example in the business world can be Guanxi. In English, Guanxi translates to
connections. Ms. Hoeks talks about saving a Dutch partners relationship with a client by
consulting with associates before talking to the client about an issue. This slow pace decisionmaking of the Chinese shows their value again for Harmony.

These two sets of values can influence business relationships between the U.S. and China
in both negative and positive ways. A negative could be the potential for miscommunication
between the two. For example, if the Chinese take a long break from work and dont cooperate
with an American businesss schedule this could be seen as disrespectful. Another negative could
be the different attitudes towards Face among Chinese and Americans. A Chinese associate may
take a joke in public as a form of humiliation.
These multiple viewpoints can be beneficial for both sides. The non-Chinese side can
learn how to do things step by step. They can learn that patience in a project can lead to quality
and success. The Chinese can benefit from their foreign business partners by learning customs
such as deadlines. The Chinese can accelerate their growth and progress by learning to set final
dates to finish work. Both parties can learn and develop new useful skills to use in business.