Business Meeting Invitation and The Significance of Cultural Sensitivity in International Business

Business Business Sales Invitation

To: [email protected]: Business Meeting

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Dear Mr. Robertson

I am writing to invite you to the launch of our new branch. As a company, we would be honored to have your presence on this auspicious occasion, even as a loyal customer. Apart from the new unit, other matters will take precedence in terms of the meetings' operations. The company is changing functionalities, which will affect business working and buying products from the company. The company has been in operation for the last twenty years, and as a result, it is opening a new branch in the city center. We believe that the company, together with customers such as you, will significantly benefit from such a move since the access to services and goods, will be more comfortable. The company will further discuss its sales strategy relating to the branch's operation and how it will affect the business affiliated with it together with the investors. You must attend to have more information regarding the change of business operations related to sales and make the necessary changes to be a part of its advancement. The company aims to introduce an information system that will guide the processes throughout the different branches. Among other agendas in the meeting, businesses will be briefed on how they will access the company from their end.

The company will further discuss the various operation plans concerning the market activities following the multiple changes that will be made to accommodate the new branch and the customers that will be allocated to it. As a business, we have greatly benefited from having you as our customers and would like to have you grace the occasion. Reservations have been made for your stay during the meeting.

We will be highly grateful for your presence at the meeting. Please confirm your attendance.

The importance of incorporating cultural sensitivity when interacting with international clients.

When communicating with international clients, there is a need to note the different cultures of their countries. Different cultures mean the interpretation of issues differently. International clients hail from different ethnicities and races in the process, having other languages and ways of interpreting various phenomena. For there to be a common understanding among people, there is a need to understand how certain people think and carry themselves in business matters to have fruitful communication for business purposes. Cultural sensitivity may require training to be culturally aware. Cultural sensitivity is an essential aspect of international business, and individuals must understand others' cultures to have more fruitful communication. People of different cultures have different ways of communicating through their language and their behavior and thinking (Hornsey et al. 82). Cultural differences affect how people from different cultures negotiate with each other in business dealings. Being culturally sensitive means treating other cultures with dignity. In focusing on the cultures in place, there is a need to consider Enron, which, without being culturally sensitive, rushed the process of handling a deal with India, which did not succeed because of not considering the culture of India, which is less indulgent while having more restraint (Rana 19). Their negotiation methods were quite different, which contrasted with those of Enron in how they approached trade. Negotiations are therefore different for the various countries involved. Communicating with different countries requires an awareness of how they communicate and thus discovering whether the situations require a win-win or win-lose situation. Therefore, some negotiations will require confrontation, while others will focus on a collaboration like the win-win approach to negotiating. Culture is evident in guiding individuals' thinking, specifically how they address others, which is quite essential in international business ventures. How to address others through their titles or avoid any inquiry into their private life is crucial. In dealing with people from different countries like Germany, one should be more formal and use titles.

The United States has a less traditional style. Hence, being culturally aware helps comprehend the mannerisms of people in how they behave and expect to be treated when carrying out tasks associated with the trade. Culture further affects the way people communicate, which may be direct or indirect. Gestures, facial expressions, and circumlocutions, to name a few, are part of the complex forms of indirect communication, while those where direct communication like in America, people expect a clear answer regarding questions asked. For example, the Japanese communicate more indirectly while interpreting a person's body language, among other signs, which further affects the result of the interaction. Agreements are an essential part of deals that individuals may make. Various parties may require a more detailed approach in writing contracts like the United States, while other parties may have fewer details regarding the rules in place with example of the Chinese.

Moreover, some differences arise in the organization of teams. Some teams may be involved in making decisions or reaching a consensus among all members, which is characteristic of the Japanese (Wolf & Alwan 15). In the American context, one person is tasked with making the overall decision. Another issue is that of risk-taking, which is quite different in many cultures. America, for example, exhibits a high-risk environment concerning negotiations. Simultaneously, other parties may have to acquire more information to decide on it without taking risks in choosing different options or making deals. When dealing with individuals of different cultures, it is essential to have enough information about how they communicate and engage in business by understanding their culture. Hence, individuals need to have cultural sensitivity to interact effectively with different parties in international trade.