Research Guides: International Business: International Business Culture

Global and regional etiquette sources

Ebooks for global, regional, or individual countries, are rich resources for traditional etiquette.

The Global Etiquette Guides give 10-20 pages of information for most countries, including descriptions of "Fundamental Cultural Orientations," such as ways to relate interpersonally, view time, deal with risk, and work with society at large. Specifics are given for greetings, communication styles, gestures, dress, situational protocols, dining and drinking, gifts, and business culture. There are ebook versions for two regions below. The Global Etiquette guides for Asia and Europe are available in print at the library (see Reference Books at EMU Library further down this page).

The World's Business Cultures by Barry Tomalin; Mike Nicks
Publication Date: 2014
The third edition of Thorogood's The World Business Cultures: and How to Unlock Them shows readers how to create connections and win deals in global business, rather than committing clumsy and costly faux pas.
The Arab Business Code by Judith Hornok
Publication Date: 2020
The Global Etiquette Guide to Africa and the Middle East by Dean Allen Foster
Publication Date: 2002
This is a 2-person-at-a-time ebook, if you are the 3rd reader wait 15 minutes or more and try again.
Authored by one of the world's leading cross-cultural experts. Invaluable for both business and leisure travelers. Comprehensive and practical coverage.
Global Etiquette Guide to Mexico and Latin America by Dean Allen Foster
Publication Date: 2002
This is a 2-person-at-a-time ebook, if you are the 3rd reader wait 15 minutes or more and try again. Authored by one of the world's leading cross-cultural experts. Invaluable for both business and leisure travelers. Comprehensive and practical coverage.
Etiquette and Taboos Around the World by Ken Taylor (Editor); Victoria Williams (Editor)
Publication Date: 2017
This is a one-person-at-a-time ebook, if you are the 2nd reader wait 15 minutes or more and try again.
Useful knowledge of what travelers should and shouldn't do when in countries outside of the United States.
Countries and Their Cultures
Publication Date: 2001
Online encyclopedia gives details on many countries
Tip: Use Table of Contents tab to browse by country.
The Quintessence of Intercultural Business Communication by M. Moll
Publication Date: 2014
Contains examples of intercultural business interaction and shows how deeply embedded cultural norms are found within simple conversations; includes tools and principles to improve communication.
Leading with Cultural Intelligence (2nd ed.) by D. Livermore
Publication Date: 2015
Offers a specific, four-step model to becoming more adept at managing across cultures. Shows leaders how to connect across any cultural divide, including national, ethnic, and organizational cultures.
Doing Business with China by S. Hamilton
Publication Date: 2011
Explains the ownership, culture and management practices when investing, managing or working with Chinese companies.

More International Business Culture

Commisceo Global Country Guides
Information for 80+ countries. Topics include language, useful phrases, the society, culture, business and social etiquettes
David Victor Vector
"This is blog that covers religious observances around the world, international affairs, and global business. This blog describes religious holidays for most major religions as well as raising issues dealing with globalization, international business ethics, cross-cultural business communication and political events affecting business in an integrated world economy."
Use the search box on the top left of page or the Search This Blog feature to find coverage of specific topics.
Global Business Languages
Global Business Languages is an annual publication containing articles on issues related to business language studies and interdisciplinary topics relating to Language for Specific Purposes, such as language for the arts, law, healthcare, and engineering.
Global Negotiation Resources: 50 Countries
This site has country information from the book Negotiating International Business by Lothar Katz. "They are 5-10 pages long and cover the following topics: Introduction, Relationships and Respect, Communication, Initial Contact & Meetings, Negotiation, Agreements and Contracts, Women in Business, Other Important Things to Know."

Reference Books @ EMU Library

The Global Etiquette Guide to Asia
In print at library - no online full-text access, but you can read a sample chapter on Japan here.
The Global Etiquette Guide to Europe
In print at library - no online full-text access, but you can read a sample chapter on England here.
Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, 2nd ed. by Terri Morrison; Wayne A. Conaway
ISBN: 1593373686
Publication Date: 2006
A comprehensive guide to proper international business protocol, with over sixty country profiles, describing how to handle common business interactions with grace, respect, and an appreciation for different cultures.
Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands
Publication Date: 1994
Request from the ARC
HF 5389 .M67 1994
Provides cultural overviews, behavior styles, negotiating techniques, protocol, and business practices for sixty countries. A unique section on value systems discusses decision making, sources of anxiety reduction, and issues of equality/inequality. This covers more countries than the Sales and Marketing edition of this book.
Put Your Best Foot Forward: Europe
REF HF 5389 .B67x 1995
Includes cultural information on value systems, families, religion, greetings, titles, body language, manners, dress, etc.
Rules of the Game
REF HF5389 .L43 1996
This book helps you “understand the underlying dominant cultural forces” in regions and countries that can lead to specific etiquette, protocol, and strategy techniques in business. Provides a type of business culture information not found in other sources.

Library Books available for Checkout

Intercultural Business Communication by Lillian Chaney; Jeanette Martin
Call Number: HF5389 .C47 2011 (3rd Floor)
ISBN: 9780132127905
Publication Date: 2010
Practical guidelines and information on how to conduct negotiations across countries and write business letters in different societies.

Many Intercultural Communication Books
This link generates a search in the EMU Library Esearch system for books on intercultural communication.

Highly Recommended by Your Professors

Geert Hofstede - National Cultural Dimensions
This professor describes cultural differences in terms of six factors:
power distance,
individualism vs collectivism,
masculinity vs femininity,
uncertainty avoidance,
long-term versus short-term orientation,
indulgence vs restraint.

EMU Published Journal

Global Advances in Business Communication Journal
Peer reviewed articles on global aspects of business communication, including international or cross-cultural business communication & negotiations, global aspects of integrated marketing communications (IMC), languages and business communication, and e-semantics (cross-cultural, language based issues related to many forms of digital media).
Open access journal.

DVDs at the Library

Customs of the World Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are
Video course on DVD available for checkout from EMU Library.
Crossing Borders - DVD
"A documentary that follows four Moroccan and four American university students as they travel together through Morocco and, in the process of discovering "The Other," discover themselves."