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Know Your Cultural Cues in Malaysia
Beyond language and religion, consider critical cultural, social and and behavioral differences.
Doing business successfully in Asian countries requires a real understanding of complex cultural differences. Try this quiz about Malaysian business relationships; if you grew up in a Western culture, you’ll probably have some learning to do.
Q: You have just completed a project for your supervisor in Malaysia. As you are presenting you realize that you have made a mistake in how you have interpreted the profits. You look to your boss expecting him to be angry, but he says nothing. Instead he calls you into his office after the meeting to speak with you about your performance. Is this normal?
A: In Malaysia, the idea of “saving face” is very important as a way of maintaining the all-important cultural notion of harmonious personal relationships. By criticizing you in private, your supervisor has chosen not to embarrass you publicly, which would cause both you and him to lose of face, a condition that would certainly affect your subsequent authority and credibility.
