Cross-cultural communication and negotiation, strategy formulation and implementation - Essay Example

Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation, Strategy Formulation and Implementation While formulating and subsequently implementing a given strategy in negotiation, it is always good to consider the aspects that affect the cross-cultural issues that different people believe in. as an international negotiator, for example, one faces some key problems while carrying out such a duty. Most of these issues faced are normally uniquely related to international business negotiations since it is an environment that the person negotiating is not used to.

Some of these issues are to do with culture shock, which occur when one is moved away from the familiar settings. There are communities that do not take lightly things such as bribes and payments that are questionable. On the other hand, others take this as a good gesture and it is their culture to give bribes or some sort of payments whenever a negotiation is going on. Gifts or monetary payments while negotiating in international business are required in gaining a positive action from officials in different governments.

Yet this same move might cost one if applied in communities that do not take it lightly and consider it unacceptable. For instance, FCPA does prohibit a company that is US-based from giving any offering in form of money or in kind to a government official in a foreign country so as to get favors or win contracts. The other issue is how people in different cultures view joint ventures and strategic alliances. Some of the partners to an alliance may have a short term view of doing business for quick gains and benefits to the business.

Such a strategy would require that only short-lived agreements are reached. On the other hand, there are people who believe in long-term development of business that has prospects for satisfactory profits in business. The joint venture negotiations end up failing if the two parties have differing views on the life of the business strategy (Sheppard 1-7).Formulation of a consistent and working strategy when facing a negotiation across culture could be quite tasking to a management team. Its implementation is also no easier.

Many factors relating to inter-cultural issues do affect the success or failure of a negotiation strategy employed. If not successfully implemented, formulated strategies may fail. Their implementation therefore depends on how effective one applies his or her knowledge of cross-cutting factors among different cultural groups involved in the process. Institutional based relationships are also important when it comes to strategy formulation and implementation. These relate to relationships within corporate business units, marketing processes and policies used, and the inter-functional structures and their processes in place.

When it comes to formulating and implementing negotiation strategies within a business, cultural aspects such as autonomy of business units, programs sharing, reward systems in place, control measures and the synergies built across these units matter to a greater extent (Li, Guohui and Martin 1-41). While carrying out a business negotiation, it is important that all the cultural factors of different parties involved in the process are taken into keen consideration to avoid any form of surprises that might arise.

The negotiator has the duty of carrying out good research on the party he or she is to deal with so as to have a true picture of the cultural differences and needs in play to realize success of such a strategy. Proper planning is therefore; of necessity, while focusing on the individual cultural practices of the parties rather than assuming that they share the same beliefs as those of the negotiator (Heide and Johannessen 217-231 ).Works CitedHeide, M., Grønhaug, K. and S., Johannessen. "Exploring Barriers to The Successful Implementation of a Formulated strategy .

" Scandinavian Journal of Management, 18, (2002): 217-231.Li, Yang, Sun Guohui and J., Martin. "EpplerMaking Strategy Work: A Literature Review on the Factors influencing Strategy Implementation ." ICA Working Paper2 (2008): 1-41.Sheppard, Charles,. "Cross-Cultural Negotiations ." Management Communication Systems (1997): 1-7.