Transcript Heart of the City Education and Employability Pilot

Heart of the City
SchoolstoBusiness
Understanding Business
Culture
Heart of the City
SchoolstoBusiness
Understanding Business
Culture
Understanding Business
Culture
Understanding Business
Culture
Understanding Business
Culture
Understanding business culture
• Key questions:
• What is ‘business culture’?
• How does business culture vary in different
countries and in different types or
organisation?
• How does this affect the way you behave at
work?
What do you think business culture is?
What do you think business culture is?
• Office or work place style?
• Dress code / style?
• Language? First names or ‘Sir / Miss’?
• Type of staff restaurant / canteen?
• Music played or silence?
• Reward culture?
What do you think business culture is?
One definition of business culture
The shared attitudes, values, goals
and practices within an
organisation or a business sector
How does business culture vary between
organisations?
• Voluntary Sector
• Media organisations
• Banks
• Service industry
• e.g. Coffee shops,
• e.g. Hairdresser?
How does business culture vary between
countries?
• Spain
• India
• China
What do some people say about British business
culture?
• Indirectness – being polite and courteous at all times is
expected. Direct questions often receive evasive responses. Pay
attention to tone of voice and facial expression, as this may be
an indication of what is really meant.
• Polite – traditional British portrayal of reserve and restraint
when faced with difficult situations. In British culture, open
displays of emotion are rare and usually confined to family and
friends.
• Humour – a vital element in all aspects of British life and
culture is the renowned British sense of humour. The importance
of humour in all situations, including business contexts, cannot
be overestimated.
British Business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts)
– DO respect personal space. People value their space and keeping
an acceptable distance is advised
– DO remember to shake hands on first meetings. It is considered
polite to do so
– DO make direct eye-contact with your counterpart, however
remember to keep it to a minimum or it could be considered
impolite or rude
– DON’T ask personal questions regarding your counterpart’s
background, occupation or income
– DON’T underestimate the importance of humour although it
needs to be appropriate to the situation
– DON’T forget that instructions are often disguised as polite
requests
How do you fit in?
•Always ask what is expected of
you e.g. start, finish and break
times
• Ask if there is a code of conduct,
and make sure you follow
the rules
• Watch what other people do
to see what is considered
normal practice
Notes about the Content
These lesson plans have been provided as part of a
collaborative project led by Heart of the City.
Contributors include: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BT,
Business in the Community, City Action, City of London
Corporation, Clifford Chance, Deloitte, East London
Business Alliance, Heart of the City, KPMG, Linklaters,
Newham Education Business Partnership, Nomura,
Sapphire Systems Plc, Tower Hamlets Education
Business Partnership, UBS Ltd.
The lessons were developed by Miken Associates UK
Limited.