Page 483 - Encyclopedia of Business and Finance

eobf_L 7/5/06 3:14 PM Page 460

Lifestyles

Online sites, like eBay, have affected how people work, play, and shop in the 21st century © LANCE IVERSEN/SAN FRANCISCO
CHRONICLE/CORBIS

operations function, such partnerships will continue to be The overall culture of an organization is reflected in
forged. behaviors that are considered the “norm” in both verbal
and nonverbal communication. Americans tend to speak
directly to one another, maintaining eye contact with the
CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON
person to whom they are talking. Hand gestures are com-
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
monly used while making presentations or in one-on-one
Business operations in the twenty-first century need to be conversation to better explain a point.
especially conscious of the cultural differences and/or sim-
ilarities of all countries. Advances in technology have Corporate Culture and Clothing. Generally, corporations
made the world a global business operation. With one determine any organization’s corporate culture by defining
click of the mouse one can immerse oneself in a culture a corporate mission statement and following this state-
very different from one’s own. Business conducted on the ment in their day-to-day practices. Proper business attire
Internet and e-commerce is the melting pot of ideas, was once considered suits and ties for men and business
culture, and people that is not just limited to American suits for women. That is no longer the case in many
society. organizations, especially in the high-tech industry where
the business environment is more casual and jeans and
Language and Communication. According to Stefan Lov- slacks are now considered acceptable.
gren, a writer for the National Geography News, “The next
four major languages—English, Spanish, Hindi/Urdu, Gender. Jobs are no longer gender-specific in the Ameri-
and Arabic—are likely to be equally ranked by 2050, with can culture. Women, once relegated to administrative and
Arabic rising as English declines.” Corporations need to support-staff roles, are now in upper-level management
act on this trend, as this will surely influence business positions alongside or above men. According to the
operations in the global marketplace. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 1983 and 2002, the

460 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION