Working abroad as part of an international assignment or other contract inevitably raises many challenges with regard to adaptability. One has to adapt to different cultures, ways of living and study the key points rigorously to live more comfortably in a host country. A host country receives a worker, who has to adapt to the customs and traditions of the country.
Religion, language, and customs have to integrate in order to work correctly to live in this new space and integrate into this new lifestyle. Beyond the adaptability of each, a thorough research work must be done upstream, with a sort of preparation for best address this new life. To make a more precise study, we will focus on issues of adaptation between two very different countries: France and China and base China as host country.
Corporate culture is defined as: "The corporate culture is the set of values, practices and procedures common to all members of a company or organization"
Corporate culture consists of many elements. A nationality: every company is deeply influenced by national origin, its cultural, historical, religious, habits. Values: What are the standards that provide the framework and operation of a social group (which is good and what is not)?
Myths: What are the common beliefs, the events in the history of the company (creation, personality of the founder, milestones) that create the legend? Rituals: what are the practices accepted by all and binding upon all, and prohibitions?
Symbols: what are the components of corporate identity (of fashions, graphic codes, modes of expression)? The corporate culture in each society represents a major and indispensable part of an organization.
French culture is focused on individualism. They live for themselves, for their success and to the satisfaction of their desires. French culture is also beyond their taste for food, a culture of Latin origin. The history of France has pushed us over the centuries to become masters in the field of claims. Queries and complaints are an integral part of our culture and our way of being.
This trait is often referred to by other countries when they talk about us. For us French, this country is "the center of the world. This trait is also reflected in a company. Reluctant to relax, we arrive at a business meeting in "suit and tie", saying "Sir" and "present" with all due solemnity. There is often a "plan table" that reflects the function of each participant. And we do, it must be noted, may show a certain arrogance in negotiations.
In general, we are not really aware of what happens "elsewhere". We have access to information, but other cultures do not generate great interest among us. We lock ourselves in our own language and usually show a singular dislike for English. Yet, we are creative and a good technical level.
Tags: French culture, Chinese culture, adaptation of a worker to cultural problems
[...] France: Culture and general organization of work French culture is centered on individualism. We live for ourselves, for our success and to the satisfaction of our desires. French culture is also beyond our taste for fine food, a culture of Latin origin. The history of France pushed us over the centuries to become masters in the field of claims. Queries and complaints are an integral part of our culture and our way of being. This trait is often referred to by other countries when they talk about us. [...]
[...] Take the example of an employee in supermarkets. Their working hours range from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., and, six days out of 7 h. Details of the daily routine • To make a sign to someone, shake your hand fingers down and palm facing you • If you receive a gift, put it aside to open later in order not to appear greedy • Never write in red because it is the color of letters of complaint • Avoid offering a watch, in Chinese the word "offer a watch" is very close to meaning "attend a funeral" • Always remove your shoes when entering someone's home • Visiting a Chinese family, first greet the oldest person to show respect • When you stretch an object to someone, do it with both hands to show that you put all your heart. [...]
[...] They are more discrete and weighted. Mechanical work and each has a definite task, showing initiative is not always popular. The meetings could almost be considered informal. There is no plan or table of organization but a topic at the pace of each reflection. They do not mean big decisions because decisions are taken only by those responsible ones. These officials are head and figure who are rarely criticized or questioned. Each place has the leader at the top and the employees at the bottom. [...]
[...] It is obviously difficult to work with people with whom you have no common language. To learn Mandarin, we have at least a hundred hours of course work and staff to get by on a daily orally. However, embarking on the writing and its thousands of sinograms is a miracle. Computer technology enables the conversion of sinograms from a western classical keyboard, but at a meeting, many things may have escaped some French. c. The notion of "losing face" This is to avoid any behavior which could put a person in trouble and lose the respect of his peers. [...]
[...] China seen by the French The French from China are often shocked by the way the Chinese treat them. Patient and disciplined enough, except when it comes to queue, they seem to show any attention towards their neighbor. d. China: Culture and general organization of work Chinese culture is centered on the family, generally considered as a microcosm of society. Formerly the family gave its support to all members of the clan, ensuring a livelihood until his death. The extended family remains extremely important, grandparents caring for grandchildren while parents work and assume the financial burden on seniors. [...]
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