Dimensions of Difference: why business must be approached differently in Indonesia

Indonesia has often been described as a shining chain of emerald islands scattered across the
equator from Asia to Australia. Few other countries in the world are comprised of more distinct
cultures and languages than Indonesia. Its diversity of peoples and belief systems makes it certain
that the foreign professional working in Indonesia encounters situations that are confusing and
unexpected. Add to this mix a struggling economy, a nascent democracy with a co-opted bureaucracy,
and the worlds largest !uslim population, and the result is a fascinating conglomerate culture in one
of the largest and most important countries in the world. "usiness must be approached differently in
Indonesia than in most #estern countries. $ultural background, education, and upbringing make a
difference on how managers approach work.
$ulture affects people and, therefore, business in five primary areas. %o assess these differences, we
ask the following questions&
1. What is the cultures belief in human nature? 'oes the culture believe that people are
basically good, basically evil, or a combination of both(
2. What is the relationship between humans and nature? Are humans sub)ugated to
nature( 'oes nature control your life( 'o people live in harmony with nature, or does the culture
believe that humans should have mastery over nature(
3. What is the cultures sense of time? Is the culture past oriented where people look to the
past as a guide for today( 'oes the culture live for the present( Is it perhaps situational( *r does the
culture look towards the future with a belief that planning, deadlines, and goal setting make it possible
for people to succeed(
4. What is the proper aspect of human activity? Is it enough )ust to Be, meaning that it is
not necessary to accomplish great things in your life to feel that it has been worthwhile. 'oes the
culture believe in "eing in "ecoming, where people are on the earth for their own inner development.
'oes the culture believe in %aking Action( %his means that it is action-oriented with the belief that if
people work hard, they will be rewarded.
5. What is the nature of social relationships in the culture? Is the culture
authoritarian with clearly defined relationships like natural-born leaders and natural-born followers(
'oes the culture believe in the collective meaning that people are defined as part of a group( 'oes
the culture believe in individualism and equal rights( %his would mean that all people are equal and
have control over their own destiny.
%he differences between #estern cultural styles and Indonesian cultural norms become very
apparent in the business environment. !ost #estern cultures believe that humanity is basically good.
!ost #estern cultures believe that the human-nature relationship is one of !astery over +ature
meaning that if nature gets in the way you change it. !ost #estern cultures have a very strong future-
time sense with the belief that planning and scheduling today make it possible to succeed tomorrow.
Finally, most #estern cultures have a strong belief in individualism and equal rights meaning that if
you work hard, you will be rewarded.
Indonesian standard business culture is quite different. First of all, it should be understood that there
is no single Indonesian culture. Indonesia with its ,-,... islands and hundreds of different ethnic
groups is a vast collection of different peoples and cultures. %hus, you must always know who you are
dealing with. /owever, 0avanese culture has long dominated the archipelago and is the standard for
Indonesian business culture today.
Indonesians generally believe that people are a mixture of good and evil. 1eople are usually good
especially when constrained by responsibilities to the group. /owever, there is the potential for evil in
all people. +ormally constrained individuals can perform irrational acts believed to be outside that
persons control.
%here is a strong belief in sub)ugation to nature, meaning that nature controls your life and there is
little you can do as an individual to move yourself ahead. *ne should accept ones position in life.
!ost Indonesians tend to look toward the past as an example for today. %here is a strong belief in
tradition but also in rules and regulations that need to be followed regardless of practicality.
In Indonesia the proper aspect of humanity is to be expressive and emotional although that
expressiveness and emotionalism lives )ust under the surface. %his means that it can be difficult to
determine the emotional state of most Indonesian coworkers, but that strong emotions can surface in
ways that may be confusing to a #estern supervisor.
2ocial relationships tend to be twofold in Indonesian culture. First there is a strong authoritarian
framework with natural born leaders and natural born followers. %hese relationships are clearly
defined. /owever, within each particular group there is a strong belief that the community makes
decisions in order to avoid individual responsibility.
A change in management becomes a particularly difficult situation in Indonesia. *ften the corporate
home office will not accept common practices and procedures found in Indonesia as a best practice
and requires Indonesian managers and staff to adapt to the international corporate culture. A deep
understanding of the cultural traits found in Indonesian business is required before an action plan can
be completed to implement change. %he home corporate office usually has little understanding of the
profound cultural complexity of implementing change in Indonesian offices, factories, and businesses.
For these reasons and many others, it becomes critical that foreign professionals working in Indonesia
look past the elaborate subterfuge found in Indonesian business and incorporate the correct cultural
traits to manage Indonesian personnel. 2imultaneously, Indonesian managers must be instructed in
the expectations of their foreign superiors and coworkers. #ithout an understanding of the cultural
expectations of the other group, frustration and confusion are the norm.
3nderstanding the best techniques for intercultural business management is the overarching goal
ofExecutive Orientation Services 45*26 and its cross-cultural training programs. 5*2 will help
you learn to understand that cultural patterns influence our own and others words and actions. "y
understanding cultural differences and similarities, you can develop ways to communicate and
collaborate more effectively across cultures.
5*2 provides you valuable tools for dialogue with your colleagues and friends, to begin to know them
both as unique individuals and also as members of their cultures. 7ou will soon learn to look at culture
as a way to capitali8e on differences to promote satisfaction and effectiveness in your business, your
organi8ation, your team, and your community. 5*2 brings a special and unique understanding of
Indonesian business customs and practices, and how they effect multi-cultural work relationships.
Dimensi Perbedaan: mengapa bisnis harus didekati secara berbeda di Indonesia
Indonesia telah sering digambarkan sebagai rantai bersinar pulau zamrud
tersebar di seluruh khatulistiwa dari Asia ke Australia !eberapa negara lain di
dunia "ang terdiri dari buda"a "ang berbeda lebih dan bahasa dari Indonesia
#eragaman mas"arakat dan sistem keperca"aan membuatn"a "akin bahwa ker$a
pro%esional asing di Indonesia bertemu situasi "ang membingungkan dan tak
terduga &ambahkan ke campuran ini ekonomi ber$uang' demokrasi "ang baru
lahir dengan birokrasi terkooptasi' dan populasi (uslim terbesar di dunia' dan
hasiln"a adalah buda"a konglomerat "ang menarik di salah satu terbesar dan
paling penting negara di dunia !isnis harus didekati secara berbeda di Indonesia
daripada di sebagian besar negara)negara !arat *atar belakang buda"a'
pendidikan' dan pendidikan membuat perbedaan pada bagaimana mana$er
mendekati peker$aan
!uda"a mempengaruhi orang dan' oleh karena itu' bisnis di lima bidang utama
+ntuk menilai perbedaan ini' kita menga$ukan pertan"aan)pertan"aan berikut:
, Apakah buda"a keperca"aan di alam manusia- Apakah buda"a perca"a bahwa
manusia pada dasarn"a baik' pada dasarn"a $ahat' atau kombinasi keduan"a-
. Apa hubungan antara manusia dan alam- Apakah manusia ditundukkan
dengan alam- Apakah alam mengendalikan hidup Anda- Apakah orang)orang
hidup dalam harmoni dengan alam' atau apakah buda"a perca"a bahwa
manusia harus memiliki penguasaan atas alam-
/ Apa arti buda"a dari waktu- Apakah masa lalu buda"a "ang berorientasi di
mana orang melihat ke masa lalu sebagai panduan untuk hari ini- Apakah
buda"a hidup untuk masa sekarang- Apakah itu mungkin situasional- Atau
apakah buda"a melihat ke arah masa depan dengan ke"akinan bahwa
perencanaan' tenggat waktu' dan menetapkan tu$uan memungkinkan bagi orang
untuk sukses-
0 Apa aspek "ang tepat dari aktivitas manusia- Apakah cukup han"a dengan !e'
"ang berarti bahwa tidak perlu untuk mencapai hal)hal besar dalam hidup Anda
untuk merasa bahwa ia telah berharga Apakah buda"a perca"a !erada di
(en$adi' di mana orang)orang di bumi untuk pengembangan batin mereka
sendiri Apakah buda"a perca"a (engambil &indakan- Ini berarti bahwa itu
adalah berorientasi aksi dengan ke"akinan bahwa $ika orang)orang beker$a
keras' mereka akan dihargai
1 Apa si%at hubungan sosial dalam buda"a- Apakah buda"a otoriter dengan
hubungan "ang $elas seperti pemimpin alami)lahir dan pengikut kandung-
Apakah buda"a perca"a pada makna kolekti% bahwa orang)orang dide2nisikan
sebagai bagian dari kelompok- Apakah buda"a perca"a pada individualisme dan
persamaan hak- Ini berarti bahwa semua orang adalah sama dan memiliki
kontrol atas nasib mereka sendiri
Perbedaan antara ga"a buda"a !arat dan norma)norma buda"a Indonesia
men$adi sangat $elas dalam lingkungan bisnis #eban"akan buda"a !arat perca"a
bahwa manusia pada dasarn"a baik #eban"akan buda"a !arat perca"a bahwa
hubungan manusia)alam adalah salah satu Penguasaan atas 3ature "ang berarti
bahwa $ika alam mendapat di $alan Anda mengubahn"a #eban"akan buda"a
!arat memiliki masa depan)waktu rasa "ang sangat kuat dengan ke"akinan
bahwa perencanaan dan pen$adwalan hari ini memungkinkan untuk berhasil
besok Akhirn"a' keban"akan buda"a !arat memiliki ke"akinan "ang kuat dalam
individualisme dan hak "ang sama "ang berarti bahwa $ika Anda beker$a keras'
Anda akan dihargai
!uda"a bisnis standar Indonesia sangat berbeda Pertama)tama' harus dipahami
bahwa tidak ada kultur tunggal Indonesia Indonesia dengan ,4555 pulau dan
ratusan kelompok etnis "ang berbeda adalah koleksi besar mas"arakat dan
buda"a "ang berbeda Dengan demikian' Anda harus selalu tahu siapa Anda
berurusan dengan 3amun' buda"a 6awa telah lama mendominasi 3usantara dan
merupakan standar untuk buda"a bisnis Indonesia saat ini
Indonesia umumn"a perca"a bahwa orang adalah campuran "ang baik dan
$ahat Orang)orang biasan"a baik terutama ketika dibatasi oleh tanggung $awab
kepada kelompok 3amun' ada potensi ke$ahatan pada semua orang !iasan"a
individu dibatasi dapat melakukan tindakan irasional di"akini berada di luar
kendali orang itu
Ada ke"akinan kuat penaklukan dengan alam' "ang berarti alam "ang
mengendalikan hidup Anda dan ada sedikit "ang dapat Anda lakukan sebagai
individu untuk bergerak sendiri ke depan Orang harus menerima posisi
seseorang dalam hidup
#eban"akan orang Indonesia cenderung melihat ke arah masa lalu sebagai
contoh untuk hari ini Ada ke"akinan kuat dalam tradisi tetapi $uga dalam aturan
dan peraturan "ang harus diikuti tanpa kepraktisan
Di Indonesia aspek "ang tepat kemanusiaan adalah men$adi ekspresi% dan
emosional meskipun "ang ekspresi% dan emosionalisme hidup han"a di bawah
permukaan Ini berarti bahwa hal itu dapat sulit untuk menentukan keadaan
emosional "ang paling rekan ker$a Indonesia' tetapi emosi "ang kuat dapat
muncul dengan cara)cara "ang mungkin membingungkan untuk seorang
supervisor !arat
7ubungan sosial cenderung dua kali lipat dalam buda"a Indonesia Pertama ada
kerangka otoriter "ang kuat dengan para pemimpin lahir alami dan pengikut lahir
alami 7ubungan ini dide2nisikan dengan $elas 3amun' dalam setiap kelompok
tertentu ada keperca"aan "ang kuat bahwa mas"arakat membuat keputusan
untuk menghindari tanggung $awab individu
Perubahan mana$emen men$adi situasi "ang sangat sulit di Indonesia Seringkali
kantor perusahaan tidak akan menerima praktek)praktek umum dan prosedur
"ang ditemukan di Indonesia sebagai praktek terbaik dan membutuhkan mana$er
dan sta% Indonesia untuk beradaptasi dengan buda"a perusahaan internasional
Sebuah pemahaman "ang mendalam mengenai ciri)ciri buda"a "ang ditemukan
dalam bisnis Indonesia diperlukan sebelum rencana aksi dapat diselesaikan
untuk menerapkan perubahan #antor perusahaan rumah biasan"a memiliki
sedikit pemahaman tentang kompleksitas buda"a mendalam
mengimplementasikan perubahan di kantor Indonesia' pabrik' dan bisnis
+ntuk alasan ini dan ban"ak lainn"a' men$adi penting bahwa pro%esional asing
"ang beker$a di Indonesia melihat masa lalu dalih rumit ditemukan di bisnis
Indonesia dan menggabungkan ciri)ciri buda"a "ang benar untuk mengelola
personil Indonesia Secara bersamaan' mana$er Indonesia harus diinstruksikan
dalam harapan atasan asing mereka dan rekan ker$a &anpa pemahaman tentang
harapan buda"a dari kelompok lain' %rustrasi dan kebingungan adalah norma
(emahami teknik terbaik untuk mana$emen bisnis antarbuda"a adalah tu$uan
men"eluruh dari Executive Orientasi Services 8EOS9 dan program pelatihan
lintas)buda"a EOS akan membantu Anda bela$ar untuk memahami bahwa pola)
pola buda"a mempengaruhi kata)kata dan tindakan kita sendiri dan orang lain
Dengan memahami perbedaan buda"a dan persamaan' Anda dapat
mengembangkan cara)cara untuk berkomunikasi dan berkolaborasi secara lebih
e%ekti% di seluruh buda"a
EOS men"ediakan alat "ang berharga untuk dialog dengan rekan)rekan dan
teman)teman' untuk mulai mengenal mereka baik individu "ang unik dan $uga
sebagai anggota buda"a mereka Anda akan segera bela$ar untuk melihat
buda"a sebagai cara untuk meman%aatkan perbedaan untuk mempromosikan
kepuasan dan e%ektivitas dalam bisnis Anda' organisasi Anda' tim Anda' dan
komunitas Anda EOS membawa pemahaman khusus dan unik dari pabean
Indonesia bisnis dan praktek' dan bagaimana mereka mempengaruhi hubungan
ker$a multi)buda"a
An adequate understanding of the cultural environment is essential in order to successful undertake
business in Indonesia. Practical day-to-day business requires entry into a multiplicity of human
interactions, all of which have some basis in culture. Even before language, an understanding of cultural
assumptions is fundamental to proper communication, which in turn is fundamental to good business.
tories of cultural collisions and misunderstandings of !esterners in Indonesia can make for entertaining
anecdotes, but in business, mistakes due to such miscommunication can be quite e"pensive.
#ime spent acquiring knowledge about Indonesian$s social and cultural environment is not time wasted% it
is as important as studying the economic climate or researching a business plan. A measure of cultural
knowledge will greatly assist the !esterner in dealing with and accommodating the significant cultural
differences that e"ist in Indonesia to achieve successful business outcomes.