Global Business Today

Summary As stated in the textbook, Global business today by Hill and Hult, (2020) “folkways define the way people are expected to behave, violation of them is not normally a serious matter. People who violate folkways may be thought of as eccentric or ill-mannered, but they are not usually considered to be evil or bad” (p. 92). Usually foreigners can initially be excused for violating folkways in many nations. However, it is generally anticipated that traveling managers would know about particular dress standards, professional and personal courtesy, eating and business etiquette. These days, it is least expected for the business owners, start-up founders and in general senior executives to respect the folkways of the country they are doing business. Folkways are the customs of daily life and personal norms. Consider it the "right way" in culture to do stuff. They're so popular and natural that we don't even know that we're doing it. Such examples include eating with the right utensils, saying "please " and " thank you", and wearing appropriate clothes in the place of worship. These norms vary from country to country in the very particular manner. Some typical examples in Modern societies include waiting in line, holding somebody's door, nodding or acknowledging fellow passengers at a bus stop (it may vary from city to city), preparing dinner from neighboring guests, waiting on them to arrive before you start eating. In comparison to mores, folkways are commonly debated as the first known social standards, thus, saying 'bless you' when someone sneezes, shaking someone's hand when you introduce yourself, are all examples of folkways; historically communicated behavior over time. Folkways, therefore, impose social norms and differentiate between proper and rude behavior (Hill & Hult, 2020). On the other hand, mores primarily apply to moral actions, they are the basic principles that define what is considered appropriate. Religious teachings are an example of mores, regulating human conduct by specifically determining what is and is not moral in our culture. The effects of not adopting mores can be dramatic if not valued. There is an order of how social norms or laws are set in a society. Governments create social standards at a high level, religious institutions establish social norms, education set some certain social norms, sand then finally social groups set social norms in the working society (Haines, 2016). This at high level is how the country has several social norms and folkways established that differ from each county, city and state. The biggest drawback of social norms is that individuals avoid challenging the meaning of these laws and whether they are still applicable to society or to oneself. And this also suggests that they avoid thinking on their own (Fluck, 2016). While this is a separate topic of discussion by itself, it does interfere from a perspective that is just coming into the society from a different country or state. For them, this seems different. Usually, as an example of a manager, when they visit an offshore center or client that’s outside their jurisdiction. At this stage, one must pay attention and not break their social norms or hurt their sentiments. Everywhere, there are social norms. From the haircut you get, the lipstick you use, the way we act to the thoughts we share, to the clothes we wear. Everything has been part of the social norm or the folkways of some kind. Social norms are the term used to characterize the characteristics of creating a pattern of knowledge from common behavior for a long period. There isn't a downside to normal behavior. Sometimes there are extreme social punishments for deviations from social norms - harsh forms like being locked up in jail, and subtle forms like being dismissed or mocked. But obeying social norms is not completely necessary. You should interact with other people who do not agree with those standards, just like yourself (Donaldson, 2015). Rituals and symbolic actions also include folkways. The most noticeable representations of a society are traditions and gestures, which represent the external representation of deeper values (Hill & Hult, 2020).