13. Down-under
On a guided tour in Australia, John wanted to impress his guide. “This part
of Australia is beautiful,” he said. He missed an opportunity. Why? (Answer)
On a guided tour in Australia, John wanted to impress his guide. “This part
of Australia is beautiful,” he said. He missed an opportunity. Why? (Answer)
12. No beans in Lima
John, a recent transferee to Lima, Peru, needed to speak to Rosa, his
Administrative Assistant. He gestured with the typical “come here” gesture.
Rosa filed a complaint with HR. Why? (Answer)
John, a recent transferee to Lima, Peru, needed to speak to Rosa, his
Administrative Assistant. He gestured with the typical “come here” gesture.
Rosa filed a complaint with HR. Why? (Answer)
14. The truck driver
While John was driving through the rural countryside in New Zealand, he
began to approach a truck ahead of him on the narrow winding road. As he
got close the truck pulled over to allow him to pass. John gave a tap on the
horn to thank the truck driver for the courtesy. The truck driver was highly
insulted. Why? (Answer)
While John was driving through the rural countryside in New Zealand, he
began to approach a truck ahead of him on the narrow winding road. As he
got close the truck pulled over to allow him to pass. John gave a tap on the
horn to thank the truck driver for the courtesy. The truck driver was highly
insulted. Why? (Answer)
15. The kimono dragon
Visiting a resort in Japan, Mary took to the culture by wearing a
kimono to dinner. She folded the kimono from the right to the left and
then went to restaurant where the locals grinned with humor. Why?
(Answer)
Visiting a resort in Japan, Mary took to the culture by wearing a
kimono to dinner. She folded the kimono from the right to the left and
then went to restaurant where the locals grinned with humor. Why?
(Answer)
Bonus question
While visiting Australia's beaches, John wanted something to
help carry his stuff. When he asked the clerk to see what she
had in a fanny pack the manager threw him out of the store.
Why? (Answer)
While visiting Australia's beaches, John wanted something to
help carry his stuff. When he asked the clerk to see what she
had in a fanny pack the manager threw him out of the store.
Why? (Answer)
11. Timeliness in Poland
Frank had just moved to Warsaw. His first night he was late for a reception
in his honor. He was told not to worry about it. The next day he was late for
lunch. His boss was extremely upset. Why? (Answer)
Frank had just moved to Warsaw. His first night he was late for a reception
in his honor. He was told not to worry about it. The next day he was late for
lunch. His boss was extremely upset. Why? (Answer)
10. The Afghan offense
Trying to build a relationship with his new co-worker from Afghanistan, John
asked him when his wife would be moving here from their home country. His
coworker was offended. Why? (Answer)
Trying to build a relationship with his new co-worker from Afghanistan, John
asked him when his wife would be moving here from their home country. His
coworker was offended. Why? (Answer)
9. Watch it in Taiwan
When John made his first business trip to Taiwan he took it
upon himself to give those with whom he met a beautiful
gold watch. Two weeks later he left Taiwan having had no
successful contacts. Why? (Answer)
When John made his first business trip to Taiwan he took it
upon himself to give those with whom he met a beautiful
gold watch. Two weeks later he left Taiwan having had no
successful contacts. Why? (Answer)
8. Business in Venezuela
John’s business trip to Venezuela had gotten off to a great start. He had a
full slate of meetings from the start of each day then running through the
dinner hour. His first day started out well. The people he met seemed
excited about the possibilities of forming business alliances and special
projects. Things turned at his dinner meeting. He started out with
relationship building and then made his guests the best opportunity he had.
Although polite to him they excused themselves. The ensuing days were
unsuccessful. Why? (Answer)
John’s business trip to Venezuela had gotten off to a great start. He had a
full slate of meetings from the start of each day then running through the
dinner hour. His first day started out well. The people he met seemed
excited about the possibilities of forming business alliances and special
projects. Things turned at his dinner meeting. He started out with
relationship building and then made his guests the best opportunity he had.
Although polite to him they excused themselves. The ensuing days were
unsuccessful. Why? (Answer)
3. Braking the glasses
It is common for a case of fragile items to contain a picture
warning the need for extra care. However when a group of
warehouse workers from the African port of Stevadores
received a shipment of delicate glassware they tossed the
boxes to each other to get them off the truck. What was
wrong? (Answer)
It is common for a case of fragile items to contain a picture
warning the need for extra care. However when a group of
warehouse workers from the African port of Stevadores
received a shipment of delicate glassware they tossed the
boxes to each other to get them off the truck. What was
wrong? (Answer)
7. The table
The company wanted to combine redundant operations and had
representatives from both sides of the ocean at a meeting. Small issues
were quickly resolved but moved to new topics. The Brits became angry, not
because big issues were being tabled, so what was the problem? (Answer)
The company wanted to combine redundant operations and had
representatives from both sides of the ocean at a meeting. Small issues
were quickly resolved but moved to new topics. The Brits became angry, not
because big issues were being tabled, so what was the problem? (Answer)
5. Next time, put on the Ritz
Leona Helmsley wanted to attract Indians to her Helmsley
Palace Hotel in New York. The ad appearing in India compared
the facility to the elegance of the Taj Mahal. Why was this a
faux pas?(Answer)
Leona Helmsley wanted to attract Indians to her Helmsley
Palace Hotel in New York. The ad appearing in India compared
the facility to the elegance of the Taj Mahal. Why was this a
faux pas?(Answer)
6. Fore
A golf ball manufacturing company packaged golf balls in packs
of four for convenient purchase in Japan. They did not sell well.
What did they do wrong? (Answer)
A golf ball manufacturing company packaged golf balls in packs
of four for convenient purchase in Japan. They did not sell well.
What did they do wrong? (Answer)
4. Breakfast at Tiffany's
Sparing no expense an international company sent beautiful
gifts from Tiffany jewelers to their Hong Kong office as a
thank you for meeting their sales goals. The gifts were
placed and Tiffany trademark robin's egg blue boxes with
white ribbons. At the last moment someone from their New
York office halted the shipments to prevent a major faux pas.
What was the problem? (Answer)
Sparing no expense an international company sent beautiful
gifts from Tiffany jewelers to their Hong Kong office as a
thank you for meeting their sales goals. The gifts were
placed and Tiffany trademark robin's egg blue boxes with
white ribbons. At the last moment someone from their New
York office halted the shipments to prevent a major faux pas.
What was the problem? (Answer)
2. In the out house in the Outback
The Smith family from Boston was enjoying their first trip to Australia. They had hooked
up with an English-speaking group from Brazil on a three-day tour of the Outback region.
Several times throughout the day they commented how lucky they were as Americans to
have met such great people from Brazil. The Brazilians were insulted. Why? (Answer)
The Smith family from Boston was enjoying their first trip to Australia. They had hooked
up with an English-speaking group from Brazil on a three-day tour of the Outback region.
Several times throughout the day they commented how lucky they were as Americans to
have met such great people from Brazil. The Brazilians were insulted. Why? (Answer)
1. The price isn't right
Carl’s employees in Beijing objected to pricing a product at 250 yuan. It is not that
the price was too high -- in fact they all agreed it was a tremendous value. Why did
they object? (Answer)
Carl’s employees in Beijing objected to pricing a product at 250 yuan. It is not that
the price was too high -- in fact they all agreed it was a tremendous value. Why did
they object? (Answer)
| Faux Pas |
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How is your cultural knowledge? Here is a quick quiz to help you determine how much you know about the cultures of the world.
Number a piece of paper form 1 to 15 (or if you are from Gen Y open a Word document or Excel spreadsheet) and answer the
questions below.
Number a piece of paper form 1 to 15 (or if you are from Gen Y open a Word document or Excel spreadsheet) and answer the
questions below.
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