Cultural Orientation Training 1

Cultural Orientation Training

Crystal Senter

June 16, 2014

University of Phoenix
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CULTURAL ORIENTATION TRAINING - ARGENTINA AND WALMART

Preparation

Strategic Goals

The Strategic Goals of Wal-Mart in Argentina in to create jobs within each country that contains

stores as well as promote from within stores (Wal-Mart Corporate, 2014). The cultural dynamics

of Argentines is to be close with their business associates in aspect of personal space which

can provide a feeling of being too close compared to other countries (Argentine Communication

Styles, 2013). The effects of this business dynamic is that those from the United States might

become uncomfortable with the level of closeness and lack of personal space that Americans

are accustomed to having.

Cultural Awareness Goals

Wal-Mart Argentina has three important goals that are important to the culture of the people of

Argentina. Those three goals are: Social Responsibility, Environmental Responsibility and

Corporate Responsibility. The employees of Wal-Mart in the United States have similar goals as

their Argentine counterparts, which has been theme of Wal-Mart for many years. The biggest

differences between the Americans and Argentines are how much aid is given to the specific

organizations in Argentina and Wal-Mart as the countries vary in size and economies. Since the

goals are very similar, the American counterparts will be able to relate to the Argentine

counterparts to be able to provide any aid the Argentines would need in any crisis.

Current State

Choose 1 for Strongly Agree to 5 for Strongly Disagree

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1. Do you feel you could work with others from different countries?

1 2 3 4 5

2. Do you feel you could work with those who has different personal space boundaries from

your own?

1 2 3 4 5

3. Do you feel that you could communicate with others who speak a different language than

your own?

1 2 3 4 5

4. I know what is expected of me to learn about other cultures to enhance relations between two

different countries.

1 2 3 4 5

5. The cultural needs of the company are more important than my own.

1 2 3 4 5

6. I enjoy working with and learning from others from different cultures and backgrounds.

1 2 3 4 5

7. I like to think I am accepting of others from different backgrounds and cultures.

1 2 3 4 5

8. I can identify the differences between my country and a different countries customs and can

adapt quickly to those differences.

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1 2 3 4 5

Research

Communicative Styles

The potential conflicts between Argentina and Unites States have to do with personal space

boundaries. As stated in the Preparation area, people of Argentina enjoy and thrive on more

closeness and lack of personal space than their American counterparts. Both Americans and

Argentines enjoy lively conversations and meetings that are boisterous and informative.

Business Ethics

Americans are accustomed to working a certain, set schedule. Typically known as 9 to 5, where

Americans work 9 am to 5 pm, people from Argentina are completely different. Argentine

employees tend to work long hours and have meetings that can happen at 8 pm on a regular

basis. Argentine customs also tend to follow that the host sits down first before everyone else in

the room does because rudeness would be implied otherwise (Argentina Business Etiquette and

Culture, 2013).

Business Culture

Argentine businesses tend to have meetings at restaurants, mostly at dinnertime and try to

avoid lunch meetings, since most employees go home for lunch to spend time with families

(Argentina Business Etiquette and Culture, 2013). Americans tend to be the complete opposite,

having meetings during the workday, particularly with lunch meetings. Argentine people enjoy
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dinners with local wine and beef or steak and consider American wine and beef to be inferior

(Argentina Business Etiquette and Culture, 2013).

Training

Participants

The employees that should participate in this training are those who will travel often to Argentina

to help with the business relations for the company between the two companies. Since Wal-Mart

is a large company, it is unlikely that those who actually work in the stores such as cashiers,

stockers and other hourly paying jobs will be doing any of the traveling or need to participate in

the training compared to upper management such as CEO’s and other positions of that nature.

Behaviors

The behaviors that the trainees will have to learn will be to reduce the need for personal space

and the typical corporate structure that Americans are accustomed to. The trainees will also

need to be comfortable with going to later dinner meetings and business functions. Luckily, most

Argentine business people speak many languages, not just the national language which is

Spanish. Since most Argentine business people are well educated, they tend to know Spanish

and English fluently as well as others based on nationality (Argentine Communication Styles,

2013).

Exercises

The trainees can learn several different non-verbal traits to be able to fit in well with their

Argentine counterparts. One of these examples is to learn to not only shake hands, but at the

same time touch the shoulder with the hand that is not shaking to show as sign of friendship and

goodwill (Argentina Business Etiquette, 2013). Americans and Argentinians have very similar
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styles of verbal communication and business etiquette. Both Americans and Argentinians

require that meetings be set up ahead of time with appointments and that those appointments

are kept in order for negotiations and contracts to go smoothly.

Resources

The trainees can use several resources to help provide a smooth period of visiting Argentina.

One tool the trainees can use is the Internet. While not every article can be trusted, most

website can give insight on what is essential for business practices to see the differences

between the two countries. Another resource the trainees can use is to visit Argentina before

any official meetings so that the trainees can immerse themselves in the culture and see first

hand what is important to the people of Argentina.

Assessment

Once the training is complete, the employees can complete the same Likert-scale that was

shown previously to see if their scores improve or decline. The purpose of the training is to

improve the scores of the employees so that the trainees can embrace the culture of Argentina

and be able to provide both countries opportunities that would otherwise not exist. By using the

training program to help immerse and give better understand to the American employees, the

employees will have an easier time adapting to other countries and cultures should the need

arise.
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References

In this section: Business Culture in Argentina. (2013, January 1). Business Communication

Styles in Argentina and Successful Communication with Argentine Businesses and

Colleagues. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from

http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Argentine-Business-Communication-Style.html

Nicol, J. (2013, January 1). Argentina Business Etiquette & Culture. Argentina. Retrieved June

17, 2014, from http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/argentina.htm

Walmart Corporate - Walmart International – Argentina. (2014, January 1). Walmart Corporate -

Walmart International – Argentina. Retrieved June 17, 2014, from

http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/international/walmart-argentina