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Common Cultural Issues

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Why Should Training be Considered "Mission Critical"

Research has shown that one of the biggest barriers to fully successful business relationships between Israeli and US companies and personnel are cultural differences. 

Israel cultural training cannot be considered just “nice to have.” The stakes for leveraging Israeli excellence and breakthrough innovations are too high, as are likewise the stakes for Israelis to utilize their own talents and business opportunities in partnerships with others.  Without proper understanding, intercultural differences between Israelis and business partners based in the United States and other parts of the world can lead to numerous areas of difficulty, frustration and reduced productivity. 

Developing global cultural competency is one of the most challenging aspects of working globally. Managing the myriad work and management styles that companies face across geographies, businesses, functions and projects can be daunting.  

Cultural Savvy’s Israel Programs are designed, customized and delivered by highly qualified multicultural experts of Israeli and U.S. origin who have practical experience of working in both in Israel and the U.S. We focus on providing a meaningful business cultural awareness of Israel, and of the US for Israelis, and practical ways of converting that knowledge into successful business applications.

A recent high profile example is Microsoft's "8 pixels" problem.  What is effective in one culture may be ineffective, or even inappropriate, in other cultures. I

Another reference is Starbucks lack of success in Israel. On the surface, this seems a pure business case. However, overlooked cultural considerations were critical. Local perception was that it was assumed that an internationally recognized brand was enough in and of itself to sell well anywhere. However, cultural understanding would have identified and addressed existing local cultural attitudes and patterns regarding coffee houses, and their already established role in providing a social venue. A model that succeeds in other cultural environments cannot necessarily be transferred anywhere. In the Starbucks case, realizing and making accommodations for cultural tastes and expectations related to drinking coffee could have made the difference between alienating or attracting customers resulting in failure vs. success.