How sensitive are you to other cultures? Try this quiz and see how you fare in cross-cultural considerations. Move your mouse over the yellow button to
see what the answer is and why.
How do you react to a Japanese person´s business card?
study it carefully, keeping it on the table in front of you
thank the person, pocket it with a laugh or smile
look at it quickly and give it back
If an Asian business person asks you how your company is doing:
boast that it is one of the best in the country
reply that business is going moderately well
say with false modesty that business is doing poorly
In Spain, what colour shoes should you wear to a business meeting?
black
brown
whatever colour you like
You are on a guided coach trip with regular stops for meals, which your Spanish host has planned. These people are not the sort you'd mix with
at home. Do you:
take out your laptop, work and ignore the others
regret the whole trip and complain to your neighbour
make yourself the life and soul of the party
You need to take the bus across town in England. Several people are waiting at the curb when the bus arrives at the bus stop. Do you:
get at the end of the line
elbow your way to the bus door
get on at the back of the bus instead
You are in Saudi Arabia. Your client asks you for a piece of paper that's sitting on the desk. Do you:
hand it to him without thinking
hand it to him with your right hand
ask his secretary to get it
You are invited home to a Thai business partner. He has children and they are very sweet. What should you do :
pat a child’s head
shake a child’s hand
give a child a gift
In the UK it is not really good manners to ask your British hostess :
how her family is doing (you haven't met them)
how much she earns per year
where she went to school
In Madrid, you're invited home to your business partner. It's the first time and you want to bring a gift. Which choice is right?
a bottle of French wine
beautiful dahlias or chrysanthemums
Swedish crystal
Which Scandinavian habit is in very bad taste in China?
