Posts Tagged ‘business’
Cultural challenges to innovation in China
Business Week recently published an interesting column by Nandani Lynton in which she discussed some of the cultural challenges that face China in its efforts to build a more innovative economy. Innovation is the buzzword in China these days. The mainland overtook Japan this year to become the world’s No. 2 investor in R&D after [...]
Technology startups in China and Scandinavia
Business Week currently has two articles on technology startups, one with tips on investing in internet businesses in China and another about new technology companies in Scandinavia. Within both articles are clues to the business cultures of the respective regions. First, some cultural advice for investing in China … One of the biggest challenges for a [...]
India a draw for business school grads
The fast-growing Indian economy is drawing business school graduates to South Asia. Despite the myriad of challenges that come with living in India, a number of young businesspeople are jumping at the chance to work in the country and gain valuable global business experience. Here is an excerpt from a story about this trend in today’s Christian [...]
Connecting to the world with camel’s milk
Great article in the Christian Science Monitor about how nomadic herders in Mauritania have a newly thriving business in selling camel’s milk to the world. It’s a story about how sometimes the best economic aid is simply an idea that helps a local population become more self sufficient, as well as how globalization has provided newfound links [...]
Islam and capitalism in Turkey
Anyone who likes to argue that Islam cannot exist in conjunction with either capitalism or democracy needs to take a closer look at Turkey. Not only does the country have a functioning democracy, but the region of central Turkey is fast developing into much more than an agricultural economy, as noted by this recent article in the [...]
Western values causing Japanese anxiety
Interesting story in the London Times about how Western business practices seem to be a cause of rising anxiety and depression in Japan. The more individualistic practices common to Western business go against the grain of a Japanese society that is traditionally more group-oriented. Other anecdotal stories in recent years seem to indicate that younger workers [...]
Networking across cultures
There was a recent article on MSNBC (via entrepreneur.com) about networking around the world. It offers a few tips on overcoming cultural differences in business. For example, here is an excerpt on how to treat business cards in Asia: The business card means much more in the Asian culture than it does here in America; it’s [...]
European migration and Irish pubs
Now that the European Union allows workers to move around the continent for jobs, some interesting migration patterns have developed. According to this NY Times article, Germany, Britain and Spain are three of the top landing spots for immigrants from other nations. These are not just laborers in search of a construction contract, but also thousands [...]
Doing business in Mexico
U.S. News and World Report this week takes a look at small firms that do business in Mexico. The article provides several ideas for business assistance, as well as these cultural tips: No doubt, face time is a must for potential exporters. “You really need to get a feel for what the environment is like,” Duncan says. [...]
Stay current with the Riel World
Follow me on Twitter
Join me on Facebook 
Subscribe by EmailMeet Bob Riel
Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
Great American Road Trips
Two Laps Around the World
My travel memoir - Two Laps Around the World: Tales and Insights from a Life Sabbatical - is about two round-the-world journeys with my wife.
Visit Travel Blog Exchange
