America's Neighbors: Beyond U.S. Borders

Overview/Description
 America's borders present very different challenges. To the north, Canada has two cultural influences in business practices and two languages. Despite its dual personality, it has a friendly business culture for Americans doing business in Canada. Still, Canadians and Americans have a few dissimilarities in their business approaches. The first lesson gives you insights and skills for conducting business with Canadians. To the south, the world is eyeing Latin America as an emerging market for global industries. Business leaders wishing to move into Latin American markets must understand cultural influences that affect business dealings in this vast and diverse region. Latin America includes Mexico, Central America, and South America. Because of the importance of these regions to American enterprises, three lessons in this course are devoted to Latin America. The course includes a lesson on Latin culture and a lesson on Latin protocol. The last lesson is devoted to America's immediate neighbor to the south, Mexico, developing cultural awareness and insights for conducting business with Mexican business partners.

Target Audience
 International business travelers, managers, directors, project managers, project team managers, and other personnel conducting business with other cultures.

Expected Duration
2.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Canada: Neighbor to the North

  • recognize the benefits of understanding the cultural influences operating within Canadian business environments.
  • select items which represent the national characteristics of Canadians.
  • identify tips for demonstrating sensitivity to Canada's multicultural policies.
  • select statements that represent facts about Canadian negotiation styles.

    • Latin American Culture

  • recognize the importance of developing an awareness of the cultural characteristics of Latin America.
  • identify factors contributing to the social climate of Latin American countries.
  • choose themes that are pervasive within Latin culture.
  • select items that describe Latin American patterns of behavior.

    • Latin American Protocol

  • recognize the benefits of learning the protocol of Latin American culture.
  • select appropriate behavior while in Latin American countries.
  • choose tips for conducting business in Latin American cultures.
  • select tips for women doing business in Latin American countries.

    • Mexico: South of the Border

  • recognize the benefits of understanding the cultural influences operating within Mexican business environments.
  • identify factors contributing to the socioeconomic climate of Mexico.
  • choose facts concerning Mexican negotiation styles.
  • select tips for conducting business in Mexico.

    • Course Number: COMM0603