http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/

While searching the web for cross cultural communication information, I came across the website Kwintessential. This is a company that specializes in translation services, interpreters, multilingual design and intercultural communication training. The company is fairly new, just starting operations in 2003 to support globalization.

If you click on the link provided above, you can see that the company offers many different services in ensuring good communication throughout cultures. They have website translation, telephone interpreters, and even sell translation equipment for meetings and conferences. The website translation was very interesting to me. The company can take a US based website and modify it for a particular culture. The difference with website translation is that not only do the words need to be presented in a different language, but it needs to be reorganized and designed to portrayy the same message that is appropriate for that culture.

This company is truly amazing. If you click on the “Free Tools & Resources” link, you will find tons of interesting and helpful items. Some of the tools provided are: country etiquette guides, cultural quizzes, foreign language font uploads for your mac or pc, language identifier, and much more. Also, be sure to click on the Video of the Month located on the homepage. It shows a comic way in which people sometimes get lost in the translation.

Cultural Awareness International

I found this great video on youtube in which World Business Review reports on Cultural Awareness International (CAI). CAI is a company that bridges the gap for employees crossing cultures. They are a valuable resource for companies with international engagements because they offer such services as cross-cultural programs and relocation services.

CAI president, Priscila Montana, talks about how her company assists individuals and families that are living and working internationally. The cross-cultural training offers an interactive workshop where key elements are focused on, such as skill building, communication, cultural differences, and other important information the client may need. CAI is able to help successfully integrate the client into the community through such services as school search, home selection, and other settling in decisions.

As globalization occurs and companies continue to expand internationally or relocate abroad, the need for guidance on entering and expanding into international markets increases. CAI has the global reach of over 450 locations worldwide. Cultural awareness has become a necessity for global companies. The services offered by CAI are customized for each individual client or family. This will help impact the success of the international venture by focusing on each client to make sure the company and individual are knowledgeable and guided throughout the process.

Joint Venture EXAMPLE

Many companies enter a market through a joint venture, as mentioned as an entry strategy in the textbook. I found a youtube video about the Joint Venture between Volvo and Vattenfall (one of Europe’s top electric companies). They have come together to produce a Plug In Hybrid for the market in 2012. They are combining their techniques to develop a hybrid vehicle that can be charged through a standard wall socket.

The video mentions how each is working together to share the R&D expenses to develop the product more efficiently and quicker. The car expertise of Volvo and electric knowledge of Vattenfall will come together to form a new product. Vattenfall states that they are taking the motor vehicles to the next level by working with Volvo on this new technique.

The video goes on to show details on the car and how the electricity will work. The main point here shows that both companies have the same vision: safe and green products. It is important to get into a Joint Venture with another company that compliments yours and is heading in the same direction.

Bribery & FCPA

After reading the first three chapters of the textbook, I soon realized that the cultural differences in countries can cause problems with ethics as well as competitive advantages. I became interested in bribery among international transactions and the limitations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

I read the article “Bourke Convicted of Bribery in Konzey’s Azerbaijan Oil Deal” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aXO.vHLdvbcM . I wanted to find a current article that deals with international bribes and the FCPA. This article came out 7/11/2009. The article mainly discusses how Frederic Bourke was convicted by a US jury of conspiring to pay bribes to government leaders in Azerbaijan in a 1998 oil deal. This was a breakthrough case for the FCPA because Bourke was convicted even though he did not pay the bribes himself. He only knew of the bribes and was convicted of violating the FCPA, violating money-laundering laws, and lying to FBI agents

Bourke was on trial for investing with Viktor Konzey knowing that Konzey gave Azeri leaders millions of dollars in cash and a secret interest in a venture to buy the state oil company. Konzey is also being charged, but is currently living as a fugitive in the Bahamas. The most interesting part of the article was that Konzey admits to bribing Azeri leaders and claims he knew the money was being used as payoffs, but says that the FCPA does not apply to him because he is not a US citizen. The US is now appealing a Bahamian court’s refusal to extradite him.

The article ends with Konzey’s opinion on Bourke’s conviction. He states that Bourke deserves minimal sentence because “in our Judeo-Christian culture, we base our life on forgiveness”.

I thought this was a great article because it shows the problems faced with different rules and beliefs in different cultures and the limitations of the FCPA. Although Bourke faces sentencing later this month for his conviction, Konzey will face no consequences for now even though admitting to the bribes.

MGMT 355-W01 - International Management

This blog is now going to be used for MGMT 355-W01 - International Management. All the previous posts were for another MGMT class I took with Professor Grossman. From here on are the posts for MGMT 355.

Thanks!