Cross Cultural Interaction

The Egyptian negotiator

Zhang Yiying Benetto Anna

Introduction

The religion is truly a way of life for them.Two main religion:

90% are Sunni Muslim

10% are Coptic Christian

The Egypt is the Arab world’s most populous nationThe official language is Arab

Religious beliefs in this society have a powerful influence on the people’s thought and actions.

Egyptians are very proud of their history and cultureThey are polychronic and expressive people

Verbal communicationThey has a tendency to start to talk before another speaker has finished

• Speak and write in a repetitious manner• Frequent use of exaggeration• Are proud of their verbal proficiency• Similar expressiveness of South European

country

Emotional Expressiveness

• Avoid said no in blunt manner• Similar indirectness of East and Southeast

Asian country Indirectness

• Avoid profanity jokes and references to sex, religion, politic events

• Not mention death, illness and natural calamities

Verbal Taboos

Non verbal communication

• Very expressive• Small space bubble – half an arm’s length• Opposite sex stand further apart

Body language

• Very common with friends• The greeting with foreign or in public occasion

is the handshakeTouch Behavior

• During a business conversation they expected you to look them in the eye

• Avoid direct eye contact between the opposite sex

Eye contact

Non verbal communication

• The tips of the fingers touching the thumb means be patience

• The left hand is considered unclean

Gestures and Taboo

• It is important to address counterparts with their professional and academic titles

Hierarchies and respect

Meetings

Time

• Polychronic• Often late• Avoid displaying impatience • They find impolite to end a

meeting abruptly

Scheduling

• People are more important than schedules

• No private meeting in this market

• It is rude to turn away drop-in visitors or to refuse to take a call

Business protocol

Business protocol

• Men: shirt&pants, suit&tie&jacket• Women: western suit or dress, scarf• Taboo: wear short clothes, no halter tops,

sleeveless, blouses, short skirtsDress code

• Time: sip coffee or tea• Topic: history, travel ,food, monuments• Taboo: Middle Eastern politics, asking about male

counterpart’s wife or daughters Small talk

• Shaking hands: men with men & women, Women with women

• Gentle, no bone-crushing, grip

Meeting & greeting

• Add appropriate honorific or title• With western first names Christians• Islamic name Muslims

Names & title

Business protocol

• Eat as much as you can• Rule of three• Avoid alcohol & pork product• Avoid overdoing compliments

Entertaining

• Avoid alcohol• Good gift: ‘coffee table’ books, illustrated

calendars, cake, chocolate, flowers• Use both hands or right hand

Gift giving

• Enthusiastic bargainers• Slow decisionNegotiating style

References

• Gesteland, Cross - Cultural Business Behavior• Lewis, When Cultures Collide• Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org• Egypt Minister Trade and Foreign Affairs :http://www.mfti.gov.eg