Please help me with the 4 discussion questions. I have answered them but not sur
ID: 397188 • Letter: P
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Please help me with the 4 discussion questions. I have answered them but not sure if they are correct
orld Expo 2020 in Dubai, UA closing. Ca The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established in 1971 and is a country in the global marketplace. The leveraging of the uniqueness typically re located in the Middle East. The country is often called "the Emirates" or quires a focus on similarities across cultures instead of differences.Con- simply "UAE. UAE borders the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Neigh- necting d boring countries include Oman and Saudi Arabia, and UAE also shares sea countries can stress the importance of looking for similarities first and then borders with Quatar, Iran, and Pakistan. Strategically, UAE is in an impor- focus on the similarities that outweigh the differences in creating strategic tant location along the southern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a tran options. sit point for the world's crude oil. UAE is also in the top 10 countries for the As with any World Expo, the expectation is that the world will be treated largest oil reserves in the world minds is a great way to illustrate how people, companies, a to an important event in the year 2020 in Dubai. The Expo on "connecting The geography of UAE includes lots of rolling sand dunes of desert and minds, creating the future" will span six months, following Werld Expo also mountains in the eastern part of the country. The government consists 2015 in Milan, Italy, and World Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The ex- of a federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal govern- pectation is also that countries will showcase who they are and what they ment and other powers reserved to the member emirates (equivalent to can do in the spirit of today's era of "nation branding. Tracing history, the principalities). The chief of state is the president and the head of govern- best known first World Expo was held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park ment is the prime minister. UAE has an open-market economy in which the London (United Kingdom) in 1851 under the title of "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations."Since 1928, the Bureau International des prices of products and services are set using a free price system. The foundation for this market economy lies in the collaboration be Expositions International Exhibitions Bureau) has served as an interna- tween the seven emirates that are part of the UAE. They include the emir- tional sanctioning body for the World Expo. These Expo showcases have ates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and generally gone through three eras: the era of industrialization (1851- Umm al-Quwain. Each emirate is governed by a hereditary emir, similar to 1938), the era of cultural exchange (1939-1987), and the era of nation succession planning in countries with royalty (king or queen) as the head branding (1988-present) of state. These emirs jointly make up the Federal Supreme Council, which The theme for Dubai's World Expo 2020 is a direct connection to its serves as the highest legislative and executive body in the UAE. One of the cultural values and beliefs in facilitating connections and pioneering new seven emirs is selected as the president of the United Arab Emirates. The ideas. The organizers expect 70 percent of the 25 million visitors to origi- capital of the country is Abu Dhabi, Islam is the official religion, and Arabic nate outside UAE, making it the most globally oriented World Expo in its is the official language. Most people have heard of Abu Dhabi and Dubai long history. The idea is that the global community will come together and because they are te country's centers of commercial and cultural act explore creative and pioneering solutions to three key drivers of pical ties. Dubai is UAE's most populous city, with more than 2 million people, development: sustainability, mobility, and opportunity. As viewed by the and it has emerged as a true global city with an eclectic cultural makeup. World Expo 2020 organizing team, sustainability centers on lasting It also has a strategic location as a business gateway for the Middle East sources of energy and water. Mobility focuses on smart systems of logis and Africa for multinational enterprises from all of the world's continents.tics and transportation. And opportunity refers to new paths to economic Dubai has frequently been rated as one of the best places to live in the development Middle East (although it is also one of the most expensive). The emirate of Sources:Expo 2020, expo2020dubai aelen, accessed March 5,2014 Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum family since 183; the emirate is United Arab Emirates, http:l/lobaledge.msu.edulcountries/united-arab-emirates considered a constitutional monarchy. In 2013, the Norway-based Global accessed Network for Rights and Development ranked UAE as the 14th country in its Wn to Boost Dubai Sukuk on Spending: Istamic Finance, Bloomberg Businessweek annual Intermational Human Rights Indicator report. This was a first among November 27,2013, and "Dubai-i's Bouncing Back The Economist,November Arab countries, with the next Arab country on the list, Tunisia, at a distant 72nd place. Only about 10 percent of the population in Dubai are Arabs, with the remaining 90 percent being expatriates. Most of the expatriates are from Asia, with India (50 percent) and Pakistan (16 percent) prominently featured. The largest group of Westerners is from the United Kingdom. globalEDGE- March 5,2014: A Ahmed, "After Winning Expo, Emirate Fumes at Allies t Says Didn't Back The New York Times, January 6, 2014; S.Potter, "Expo 2020 23,2013. CASE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS . What forces shaped the culture in the country of UAE and Dubai in particular? How similar or different are these forces from those that shaped the culture of Western nations? With this eclectic cultural background, Dubai's bid to host the World Expo 2020 with a theme of"connecting minds, creating the future" makes sense both logically and strategically. sues related to culture. In essence, the theme illustrates and acknow edges differences in culture (as does this chapter), and the theme supports 3. If you were in a position to advise a Western company that was the notion that we strive to emphasize similarities across the globe. This considering doing business in UAE for the first time, what would your point was illustrated in Chapter 1 when we asked in one of the Alternative advice be? Perspectives boxes, "Which is more important -similarities or differ- 4. Using Dubai as an example, do you believe that cultural similarities ences?" The idea is that today, multinational enterprises have to evaluate among people can outweigh cuitural differences that exist in terms of their core uniqueness and how they can leverage this strategic uniqueness doing business together in the future? 2. What kinds of misunderstanding, if any, are likely to arise between The theme resonates well with isWestern-based visitors and people from the UAE during World Expo 122 Part Two National DifferencesExplanation / Answer
1. The forces that shaped the culture of UAE in general and Dubai in particular are several and the most prominent among these forces are the diversity in Dubai as well as UAE due to immigration of a lot of foreigners into this region. People from different countries now call UAE and Dubai their home and as a result, right from its formation, UAE in general and Dubai in particular have an eclectic culture. The UAE has an open market economy and this has attracted foreign capital and talent from across the globe and the influx of people from different countries has defined and shaped the culture of the region.
These forces are different from the forces that shaped the culture of the Western nations. For instance forces in Western nations were free from any influence of the monarchy while in UAE and Dubai monarchy reigns supreme. Secondly UAE and Dubai are less tolerant toward other religions and religious believes unlike the Western countries.
2. The first and the most possible and prominent misunderstanding that can arise between Western based visitors and people from UAE during the World Expo 2020 is the misunderstanding that can arise on the basis of religious differences. For instance UAE and Dubai are predominantly Muslim countries and follow Islamic laws. Islamic laws are very strict and less accommodating and open when compared to Western way of living. This will require an adjustment from the Westerners.
3. My advice to the Western company that is considering doing business in UAE for the first time is that it should learn to accept, understand and respect the cultural nuances of the region. It is important for the company and its employees to be culturally sensitive and this can be done by training and orienting the employees with regards to different cultural aspects of the region.
4. Yes, Dubai is a very good example of cultural similarities outweighing cultural differences that exist in terms of doing business together in future. In Dubai Arabs is a minority community and majority of the people living in Dubai are expatriates. The expatriates and the Arabs live in harmony as they are similar with regards to openness of mind when doing business. They are progressive and forward looking and these similarities outweigh and out shadow differences that they have in terms of culture and religion.