Global Business Cultural Analysis

Abstract

Globalization has simultaneously created global interdependence among nations of the world. Every nation is different from the other. The difference has formed barrier in trade, communication, value and custom. The objective of this paper is to study the factors impacting business in Malaysia and implication of the United States business in Malaysia. Developing countries are typically having more potential for foreign investment because they want to achieve the goal of developed country which is prosperous and fully industrialized. Malaysia is a diversified and humanities rich country from as being offshore destination. Malaysia is classified as upper middle income developing country due to its GNI per capita of $8420 as of 2011 according to World Bank data (2012). Malaysia is determining and rapidly moving to its goal of achieving National Vision 2020 as a fully developed country by year 2020 with its investor friendly business environment.

Global Business Cultural Analysis: Malaysia

Globalization has simultaneously created global interdependence among nations of the world. Every nation is different from the other. The difference has formed barrier in trade, communication, value and custom. The objective of this paper is to study the factors impacting business in Malaysia and implication of the United States business in Malaysia. Developing countries are typically having more potential for foreign investment because they want to achieve the goal of developed country which is prosperous and fully industrialized. Malaysia is a diversified and humanities rich country from as being offshore destination. Malaysia is classified as upper middle income developing country due to its GNI per capita of $8420 as of 2011 according to World Bank data (2012). Malaysia is determining and rapidly moving to its goal of achieving National Vision 2020 as a fully developed country by year 2020 with its investor friendly business environment.

What are the major elements and dimensions of culture in this region?

Introduction

The research project direction and main objectives are in compliance of global business cultural analysis requirements with integration of Christianity viewpoint.

Research project direction. The research project direction intents the reader to be able comprehensively answer the following questions:

* What are the major elements and dimensions of culture in this region?

* How are these elements and dimensions integrated by locals conducting business in the nation?

* How do both of the above items compare with US culture and business?

* What are the implications for US businesses that wish to conduct business in that region?

Major objectives. The major objectives of this research project include identifying the macro impacts of political, economic, social, and cultural in Malaysia business throughout the history to present, assessing the actual conduct of business in Malaysia with the macro impacts, comparing Malaysia and US business cultures, assessing the future opportunities and requirements for US businesses that wish to conduct business in Malaysia by applying SWOT analysis, and integrating biblical concepts into the analysis.

Christian viewpoint on international business. Businesspeople face biblical challenge especially on the international stage merely due to the divergence. The purpose to include Christianity at the global marketplace is to provide guidelines to the businesspeople by applying God's love and wisdom.

Country Information

British colonization had deeply impacted and set forth to date's Malaysia. Strategic location for trade routes and appearance of two other main ethnicities in Malaysia are profoundly related to British colonization. Malaysia was colony of British due to its rich natural and raw resources and strategic location for trade routes.

Country geography. Malaysia is located near the equator in Southeast Asia and divided into two distinct parts of the peninsular East Malaysia and Borneo island West Malaysia. East Malaysia is surrounded by Malacca Strait at the west and South China Sea at the east and is situated in between east and west of the world which is strategic location and capable of facilitating international trade with it world class ports.

Country ethnic composition. Malaysia is a multi ethnicity society. The three main ethnicities with composition order are Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Malay is the native while appearance of Chinese and Indian was originated from labor importation while Malaysia was under colonization of British. China and India were exploited before Malaysia and skillful labor force was needed for mine and plantation related work in Malaysia that natives were not well in. Being native and largest ethnicity, Malays with their cultural custom are superiorly preservative in political and economic developments. There are other aboriginal ethnicities in Malaysia that are not active and only involve in agricultural activity and experience most poverty.

Communication

Communication allows people to interact. In business world, communication is vitally used among the stakeholders to plan, negotiate, and contract. Unfortunately, every nation has its own language which could potentially create confusion if not understood. Understanding the difference is essential for smooth transaction.

Verbal communication differences. Being multi ethnic society, various languages are spoken in Malaysia, but Malay is the official language and mandatory in the educational system. However, the rich humanities histories are still preserved in Chinese and Indian. Chinese in Malaysia speak a variety of Chinese dialects including Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, and Teochew. On the other hand, Tamil is most common language in Indian community in Malaysia. English has been very commonly used in larger cities of Malaysia where there are the nation elite professionals at and more foreigners in contact with locals

Non-verbal communication differences. Malaysia government decided that Malaysia has to recover from the British colonization and therefore formalized Malay as the national or official language of Malaysia to encourage nationalism and originality. Nevertheless, Law of Malaysia Act 32 prescribed the National Language Acts 1963/67 which states the "use of English may be permitted" specifically in Section four and five ("National Language Act 1963/67," 2006). Regardless,