Topic 7 - Culture and business in Africa Flashcards
Magreb
Countries with a strong Islamic background
Magreb highlights
PD – 80, AI – 68, IDV – 38, MAS – 53
Highlights:
• Honour, dignity and respect are very important for Arabs
• Avoid making people feel ashamed
Magreb behaviour
Behaviour:
• Close relationships are sought, preferably without distance or intermediaries.
• Men hold a dominant
• Do not be surprised by delays
• The meals are longer and later than in most of Europe
• Generosity, hospitality and patience are still important values
Morocco
- Morocco does not enforce sharia law
- Emerging market with high external openness
- The role of the monarchy in politics and business is very prominent
Moroccan Business Culture
- Underdeveloped distribution channels
- Contacts are made face to face – approach to the market takes time and several visits to the country
- Highly REGIONALISED
- Negotiations conducted primarily in French
- Price is the essential part of trading
- In order to succeed there needs to be a climate of trust and seek a long – term relationship
- Decision – making is very hierarchical
- High tendency to improvise
- Use of time is flexible
South Africa
- Companies that have invested in Africa have often lacked competitiveness due to the low productivity
- Western business practices have a strong sense of community
Unbuntu Philosophy
- Perspective is based on the idea of considering the company as a community
- Role of the company is to reward the community
- Main values of the philosophy are respect, humanity etc.
- Management positions often occupied by older people
- Age is seen as a maturation process by which knowledge is acquired and accumulated
- Communication is crucial
Collectivistic nature of the African people…
can conceal the danger that the sense of community is limited to a small group of individuals and that the interest of relatives are placed above those of the community.
