In my international business class we are writing a term paper. I don’t need to submit the full term paper but I need to submit the outline right now. THE COUNTRY I CHOSE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FINLANDThis is what I have to submit right now: “Each student must submit a two-page outline summary of initial research findings and sources utilized thus far. Minimum of 3 resources must be identified.”and this is the complete outline guidelines.a. Background of the Culture (chapter 3):
i. Historical background (brief). As it relates to and explains values or attitudes in this culture. How do historical events explain or influence how people in this culture see themselves or other countries around them.
ii. Hofstede evaluation (brief overview of important/extreme elements).
iii. High or low context communication.
iv. Thinking and knowing (chapter 3):
1. Knowledge from concepts or experience?
2. Learning:
a. By asking questions?
b. By mastering received wisdom?
3. Does knowledge have limits?
4. How do people reason in this culture?
v. Doing and achieving (chapter 3):
1. More important – doing or being?
2. Tasks done sequentially or simultaneously?
3. Priority – results or relationships?
4. Uncertainty avoided or tolerated?
5. Is luck essential or irrelevant?
6. Rules followed or bent?
vi. The big picture (chapter 3):
1. Dominance – humans or nature?
2. Religion/belief systems.
3. Perceptions and use of time – monochronic or polychronic?
4. Understanding of death.
vii. Self and self-identity (chapter 4):
1. Individual or collective? Independent or interdependent?
2. Obligations – burden or benefit?
3. Age – valued or discounted?
4. Gender roles in business.
viii. Social organization (chapter 4):
1. Group membership temporary or permanent?
2. Formality – important or untrustworthy?
3. Personal matters – private or public?
4. Social organization – horizontal or hierarchical?
5. Approach to authority – direct or mediated?
b. Language (chapter 2):
i. History/origins.
ii. Characteristics (tones, dialects).
iii. Language as a reflection of cultural values.
iv. Verbal greetings – hello, thank you, and excuse me or I’m sorry.
v. Official languages.
vi. Written language – alphabet or symbols?
vii. Conventions of written business communication:
1. Numbers/dates/currencies.
c. Organizing Messages (chapter 5):
i. Who
ii. Where
iii. When
iv. How:
1. Face to face, phone, E-mail, FAX, etc.
v. Routine messages: Direct or Indirect plan?
vi. Basis for persuasive logic.
vii. Persuasion tactics.
viii. Communicating about problems/saying no.
ix. The role/force/importance of words.
x. Formal (hierarchical) or informal (horizontal) communication style?
d. Nonverbal communication (chapter 6):
i. Paralanguage.
ii. Nonverbal business communication conventions (do’s and don’ts):
1. Eye contact?
2. Facial expressions:
a. Smiling.
b. Showing anger.
3. Gestures and arm movements.
4. Posture.
5. Touching.
6. Space:
a. Personal and public.
b. Expectations of privacy.
7. Greetings.
8. Appearance.
9. Silence.
e. Relationships (chapter 7):
i. Signals of respect.
ii. Authority:
1. Positions or professions.
2. Behavior and tone.
3. Language.
4. Family or societal structures.
iii. Assertiveness vs Harmony.
iv. Appropriate ways to recognize performance.
v. Social contracts:
1. Mixing social and business activities?
2. Host and guest behavior.
3. Gift giving.
4. Holidays.
vi. Ethics.
f. Information, Decisions, Solutions (chapter 8):
i. Nature of information.
ii. Soft vs hard data.
iii. Formal vs informal sources.
iv. Decision-making – ends or means?
v. Problem solving and conflict resolution:
1. Which conflict management mode used (page 316)?
2. Which conflict communication style used (page 320)?
g. Negotiations (chapter 9):
i. Profile and characteristics of the negotiator.
ii. Communication and style of negotiating.
h. One element of the culture that “Doesn’t Translate” for you.
i. If you were to manage or start a business in the country of your choice, discuss one of the cultural attributes/values/behaviors of your selected country that you would not adopt/adapt to in your company operations or your own personal management style. Why would you not adopt this cultural aspect for business?
