Uk Business Etiquettes
Illustration Of A Report On Business Etiquette Of U. k [pic] Presented by- Gunjan Sarawgi Content list Executive summary Introduction Legislation Appointment alert Business dress Welcome topics of conversation Topics to avoid Giving gifts Closing the deal Conclusion Recommendations Appendices Bibliography Executive Summary:
This essay will make an attempt to describe what the xyz motors manager should do to be proactive in doing the things they want to perceive, bringing about their communication as well as innovative skills into action to change and accomplish the requirements of the organisations collectively working together with the team members of the organisation. Globalisation has played a vital role in increasing the opportunities for intra organizational communication wherein people of different culture work together. If the organisation fails to follow this decorum of business standards in u. they might fail to close a deal. Introduction: The XYZ Motors have been marketing truck and bus chassis in India for last several years. They propose to expand their market overseas. In accordance with knowing the profile of United Kingdom, their core values, societal norms, the business environment and protocol, significant ways in which the culture is different, communication as well as negotiation styles. This survey would enable the company to expand overseas and get the proposed business deal to their clients in U. K.
Charles Darwin said” It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones who are most responsive to change”. The data for this report was collected from the internet web pages and few internal cultural communication books. I am grateful to MR. GAURAV SARAWGI for helping us in the collection of data and preparing illustration. Legislation: With regard to legislation, it should be noted that England and Wales share the same legal system rooted in common law and, although Wales now has its own Assembly, all Welsh law is still made in Westminster. Scotland, on the ther hand, has a separate legal system and the Scottish Parliament has considerable devolved authority, including fiscal powers. The Northern Ireland Assembly is currently suspended. Again, if you are unsure where your interlocutor stands, it is best to avoid the issue completely or risk being subjected to the forceful expression of strongly held beliefs. Appointment alert: In theory, official working hours are normally 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Monday to Friday. In practice, most employees work considerably longer hours; many will be at their desks by 8:30 a. m. and executives rarely leave before 7:00 p. . Professionals like lawyers and consultants may not arrive before 9:30 a. m. but, on the other hand, they may not leave the office until the following day. Generally, the British prefer to stay late in the office than to take work home with them even if they do carry a briefcase (their ‘executive lunch-box’). Government offices close for lunch between 1:00 p. m. and 2:00 p. m. but stay open until 5:30 p. m. The opening hours for shops are almost completely deregulated, though there are some restrictions on Sunday trading, and many outlets are open 24/7 even outside the major urban areas.
Banks are generally open 9:30 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. Monday-Friday. Appointments should be made at least a few days in advance and, ideally, confirmed on arrival in the UK. Most British businessmen are not so jealous of their diaries that they will decline to meet a visitor even at relatively short notice. Grander members of the so-called ‘Establishment’, however, may have uncooperative PAs to shield them, whilst jet-setting entrepreneurs may be genuinely too busy. Cold calling is not appreciated.
It is best to avoid July and August when those with children are almost obliged to take their annual vacation. Easter is also popular for holidaying and there are two Bank Holidays in May that may catch the unwary visitor [especially in a year when Easter falls in late April].. The easiest times of day to arrange an appointment are probably mid-morning (say 11:00 a. m. ) and mid-afternoon (say 4:00 p. m. ). Breakfast meetings are rare outside London and other major cities and it is unlikely that an initial meeting will involve lunch (or dinner).
Punctuality is appreciated but no one really minds if you arrive a little late [up to 15 minutes] for a one-to-one meeting. Obviously, though, if several people are involved then there is a greater likelihood that someone will have another engagement to attend. On the other hand, you should not arrive too promptly for social events – but aim to arrive a respectable fifteen minutes after the specified time; thus, if a dinner invitation states ‘7:30 p. m. for 8:00 p. m. ‘, it means that you will be expected at about 7:50 p. m. Business dress:
Conservative dress is the norm for both men and women in British business culture where darker colors (black, dark blue, charcoal grey) and heavier fabrics (wool) predominate.. In some ways, the British often appear indifferent to both style and fashion but there remains an almost snobbish awareness of ‘quality’. Thus, senior bankers, civil servants, lawyers and accountants are still likely to shop at smart outfitters in London’s West End: bespoke suits from Savile Row shirts from Jermyn Street with silk tie, and hand-made leather Oxford shoes. Other occupations dress differently.
IT departments dress down all week. Do not imagine that the British businessman or businesswoman dresses as if he or she is about to go off hunting or shooting. Tweed, corduroy and comfortable brown brogues do belong in the country but they should remain there. Similarly, with the possible exception of lairds and gullies, the Scots do not wear kilts to work; they may be strongly associated with Scotland’s cultural heritage but they are only ever seen at Highland weddings and other social gatherings and when Scottish sports supporters travel abroad. The rest is another outdated cliche.
Nevertheless, the British still like donning the appropriate uniform for certain social functions. The rules are becoming more relaxed but London clubs and smarter hotels and restaurants may still require gentlemen to wear jacket and tie and ladies not to wear trousers. Weddings and some dinners may be formal but, if you have traveled half way round the world to be there, no one will mind if you did not bring your morning suit or dinner jacket. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to hire suitable attire; your efforts would be appreciated and you would also feel less out of place.
The specification ‘Lounge suit’ on an invitation in the UK occupies the sartorial space between ‘Black tie’ (i. e. formal) and ‘Smart casual’ (jacket/blazer and tie). Since the men will probably be wearing their business suits, women can legitimately imitate them, perhaps with the addition of a smart accessory. Two tips for men: do not put pens, pencils, etc. in shirt or jacket breast pockets avoid wearing striped ties. Finally, a Briton’s choice of casual wear is one of those shibboleths that confirm the persistence of the class system at least in matters of taste.
It is no wonder that we continue to prefer the uniform of a suit at work and the visitor should not be surprised at anything the natives might choose to wear when off-duty. Welcome topics of conversation: The weather (always a safe starting point); Sport (particularly football/soccer); Animals (usually safe – though beware vegetarians if you like to eat them); British history, culture, literature, art, and popular music; Current affairs; Your immediate surroundings and positive experiences in the UK; How good the food is (things have changed in recent years! ); Real ale (i. e. traditional British beer) Topics to avoid:
Northern Ireland religion (especially if you are in Northern Ireland, Glasgow or Liverpool); The monarchy and the Royal Family; Partisan politics; The European Union, ‘Brussels’ and the euro; The Middle East ; Personal questions about a person’s background, religion, occupation, etc. ; Class and the class system; Race and immigration; Sex (particularly homosexuality) Giving Gifts: Giving gifts is not a normal part of British business culture. Indeed, British business colleagues are quite likely to feel embarrassed to receive any gift at all. Such items might be gold, silver, or porcelain with a suitable inscription.
Again, to avoid embarrassment on the part of the recipient, the object must be restrained, tasteful, and not ostentatiously expensive. It might be helpful to ask yourself whether the recipient would gladly display the gift in his living room or consign it to the attic at the earliest opportunity. Small gifts such as a pen or a book, again suitably inscribed, would be suitable tokens of genuine gratitude and flowers or wine/champagne suffice to thank (junior) colleagues for their services. Do not, however, appear patronizing or unduly forward (especially if the recipient is a woman).
Alternatively, it will often be appreciated if you invite your hosts, or others you wish to thank, out for a meal or to the theatre/opera. It is always good form to buy a round of drinks for your colleagues after work. Business gifts are never exchanged at Christmas but it may be appropriate to send a card, particularly as an expression of thanks to your business associates but also as a means of maintaining valuable contacts. Bear in mind that the UK postal service was founded at about the same time as the antiquated railways so ensure that your cards are mailed in good time.
In the unlikely event that you yourself receive a gift, you should be sure to reciprocate. Assuming that you have been caught unawares, you will not have an offering of your own to hand so the best option is to extend an invitation to dinner or, if time is really short, then run to the nearest wine merchant for a bottle of the best champagne you can afford. If you are invited to a British home, it is standard practice to bring wine, flowers, and/or chocolates for your hosts. Spirits, on the other hand, are a matter of personal taste and best not given as a present.
A bottle of your favorite bourbon may languish unopened in the drinks cabinet for years. If you are unprepared, then your time in your hosts’ house should allow you to think of something they would really appreciate even if you have to mail it from home on your return. Whenever you have been a guest in a home, you should definitely send a hand-written thank-you note. Closing the deal: In order to command respect and to assure counterparts of her competence, the traveling businesswoman should maintain a professional demeanor, display a detailed knowledge of her field and dress conservatively at all times.
Regrettably, some of this advice is also relevant for non-whites. In keeping with their undemonstrative nature, British businessmen approach their work in a detached way that regards objective facts and solid evidence as the only legitimate forms of persuasion; feelings and personal relationships are usually irrelevant. Thorough preparation is important: you should bring a plentiful supply of business cards [which are normally exchanged at the end of a meeting] and ensure that you have the proper materials for making effective presentations.
Meetings can sometimes appear rather anarchic with little apparent structure or direction. This is in keeping with Britain’s proud democratic tradition that allows everyone his or her say, but it can also be misleading. Whilst teamwork is important, British business culture remains essentially hierarchical. Nevertheless, despite this traditional view of British business as a hierarchical, pyramidal structure with a vertical chain of command, notions of a quasi-military organization are increasingly out-of-date.
Senior executives continue to make the ‘big’ decisions, sometimes unilaterally, but there is greater scope for input from junior staff. At the same time the ‘younger generation’ (under 40-45 years of age) is simply less respectful of their elders whom they no longer regard as necessarily their betters. This does not mean that the boss is a more approachable ‘friend’; managers still manage, especially in the older industries where there is minimal delegation of real responsibility.
The British work well as a team and reach team decisions but the boss remains somewhat apart from the team. Although British businessmen tend to emphasize short-term results rather than long-range objectives, they are generally interested in long-term relationships rather than quick deals. Precedent plays an important part in decision-making. The British tend to follow established rules and practices and company policy is the primary authority at all levels of the organisation. A proposal stands a better chance of success if it conforms to the way things have been done in the past.
Decision-making can be a slow, deliberate process and rushing or putting pressure on the decision-maker is usually counterproductive; in the end, the Managing Director will reach a final decision that may be unilateral and is effectively irrevocable. Attitudes to change and time tend to vary according to an age-industry matrix. ‘Now’ means ‘now’, but ‘I’ll put it in the post’ or ‘I’ll get back to you’ may mean a long delay and maybe ‘never’ Agreements lead to contracts; if the British businessman is really serious, the lawyers will set to work instanter.
On the other hand, delivery may still not be as rapid as hoped or even agreed. Conclusion: Be aware in your dealings that the British are masters of understatement and that irony is a favourite weapon. Direct questions may encounter evasive responses and other typically British ploys are to avoid stating the obvious and to imply the opposite of what is actually said. Tone of voice or facial expression may sometimes hint at what is really meant but not always and it is equally important to pay attention to what is not said.
Humor also plays an important role in business discussions; having a repertoire of jokes and anecdotes can be an asset and good raconteurs should make the most of their talent. Nor should you give unsolicited praise since it is rarely welcome. And do not gush – the British ‘stiff upper lip’ does not appreciate excessive enthusiasm. Recommendations: Finally, once they decide that they want to do business with you, the British can be blunt, direct, and probably will not hesitate to speak their minds. They certainly will not be slow to say ‘no’ (however politely or obliquely) Appendices:
For example, those in advertising or the media are prone to wearing something rather more flamboyant, though still stylish, from a leading designer. Middle management is more likely to be driven by cost than fabric or style and hence to shop in one of the High-Street chains. It will, however, still entail a suffuse suit for both men and women. Women may wear trousers. Neither sex should wear denim. Bibliography: www. executiveplanet. com Wikipedia: United Kingdom CIA World Fact book: United Kingdom Lonely Planet: England About. com: United Kingdom for Visitors BBC Country Profiles: United Kingdom World Health Organization: United Kingdom
