Understanding the Arab Culture: A Practical Cross-cultural Guide to Working in the Arab World (Working With Other Cultures)

Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
About the author......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 16
Introduction......Page 18
1 A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE......Page 22
The place of generalizations......Page 23
The dangers of stereotying......Page 28
Emerging with common sense......Page 30
The role of the cross-cultural theory......Page 32
Exaggerating the role......Page 34
Recognizing the complexity of culture......Page 36
Going beyond visibles......Page 38
Holding your judgement......Page 39
Appreciating Gandhi’s dilemma......Page 41
Accepting culture shock......Page 42
Knowing yourself......Page 44
Seeing yourself as others see you......Page 45
Working with stereotypes......Page 47
Mentoring and solving problems......Page 48
Packing your sense of wonder and humour......Page 50
Writing about culture......Page 52
The four cultural determinants......Page 53
Relationships in collective cultures......Page 55
Business practices in collective cultures......Page 56
Hierarchy in power distant cultures......Page 60
Business practices in high power distant organizations......Page 62
Communicating with high context cultures......Page 65
Communicating across cultures......Page 67
Business tips for high context cultures......Page 71
Managing time in polychronic cultures......Page 72
Business Tips for Working with Polychronic Cultures......Page 74
Increased complexity......Page 77
Building a communications strategy......Page 78
Managing meetings effectively......Page 82
Doing business and negotiating......Page 88
The Arab world......Page 91
The Arab League......Page 92
Sources of unity......Page 94
Terms of Reference......Page 97
The Arab peoples......Page 99
The levels of diversity......Page 101
The Arabic language......Page 103
Learning the language......Page 104
Learning tips......Page 106
Translating into Arabic......Page 107
Some useful phrases......Page 109
Arabic numbers......Page 111
Cultural quiz......Page 113
Before you travel......Page 114
Getting there......Page 116
What’s in a name?......Page 117
The rules of formality......Page 119
Understanding family names......Page 120
Interpreting body language......Page 122
Reading the tactile culture......Page 124
Appreciating gender differences......Page 125
Increasing women’s roles......Page 127
Aspects of dress code......Page 128
The position of hospitality......Page 131
Sampling Arabic coffee......Page 135
Hospitality tips......Page 137
The role of the family......Page 139
Making conversation......Page 141
Conversation tips......Page 142
Socializing with Arabs......Page 145
Attending weddings and festivals......Page 146
Visiting the Majlis......Page 149
Going on desert outings......Page 151
Sampling Arabic food......Page 153
Shopping and bargaining......Page 156
Getting out and about......Page 157
Living conditions......Page 159
Islam in the world......Page 161
Islam today......Page 162
The meaning of Islam......Page 165
The oneness of God......Page 167
Mohammed (PBUH): Seal of the Prophets......Page 168
Family code......Page 170
A way of life......Page 171
The meaning of Shari’a......Page 172
Praying – Salah......Page 173
Fasting during Ramadan......Page 174
Pilgrimage to Mekkah – Hajj......Page 176
Useful tips......Page 177
The business environment......Page 180
Business is personal......Page 183
The spoken word......Page 184
The meeting......Page 185
Circular meetings......Page 187
Pleasantries and small talk......Page 188
Organized chaos......Page 189
Flow and tempo......Page 191
Breaking bad news......Page 192
Punctuality......Page 194
Inshaalah......Page 197
Confrontation avoidance......Page 198
Decision-making......Page 199
Waasta and favours......Page 200
Exercise – making a presentation......Page 202
Epilogue......Page 204
Recommended reading......Page 223
H......Page 224
W......Page 225