CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Intercultural and International Business Communication
Mehta Textiles, an Indian exporter, sends its team to Germany. The team arrives 25 minutes late for a meeting, saying that in India flexible timing is normal. The German buyer is offended. Which concept best explains the misunderstanding, and what is the most appropriate lesson?
The misunderstanding arises from differing cultural attitudes to time. Germany expects strict punctuality, while Indian flexibility is more tolerated. The lesson is to learn and respect the host culture's norms. It is not a language or legal issue, and expecting the host to adapt reflects ethnocentrism.
- AEthnocentrism is harmless, so the German buyer should adapt to Indian norms
- BDifferent cultures view time differently, so the team should learn and respect the host's punctuality normsCorrect
- CLanguage difference alone caused the problem, so hiring a translator would solve it
- DLegal rules of Germany require punctuality, so the team violated the law
Explanation
Cultures differ in their attitude to time; Germany is typically monochronic with strict punctuality, while flexible timing is more accepted in many polychronic settings. The remedy is cultural awareness and adapting to host norms. No translator can fix a difference in time perception, and punctuality is a social norm, not a legal requirement. Insisting on one's own norms is ethnocentrism, which is a barrier.
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