WORKING IN SRI LANKA

YOUR FRENCH INFORMANTS:

VIVIAN, LAUREN, ANN

BASIC INFORMATION

• LOCATION

• CAPITAL

• POPULATION

• ETHNIC MAKE-UP

• CURRENCY

WEATHER

Tropical (wet and dry season)

Humidity 80% year-round.

Yala monsoon (May - September)

Dry season (December- March)

FLAG

RELIGION

Sri Lanka

BuddhistMuslimHinduChristianOther

France

ProtestantMuslimJewishChristianUnaffiliated

EVERYDAY CLOTHING

The sarong and Sari

CUISINE

WORKING IN SRI LANKA

Working week

Salary

Greeting

Clothing

Language

Typical problems

How to improve your job opportunities

WOMEN IN WORK

Difficulty for women to enter the business world.

Low status, low skilled and low paying jobs.

Garment industry

Female unemployment rate 22%

(double that of men)

HIGH V LOW CONTEXT

Refer to styles of communication

Words do not convey whole messages

Example: U.S. translation system

HIGH V LOWThings may be left unsaid

Few words can convey a complex message

Word choices important

More explicit communication

Highly codified language

Value of word less important

DETERMINING FACTORS

Emotions in a close relationship

Directness of message

Use of Non-Verbal Communication

Use of digital/analogous language

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

East Asia (Sri Lanka included): non confrontational business

Building relationships > strict principled business codes

Company culture and networks

NEUTRAL CULTURES

Tend to not display emotions overtly

Interactions with others are cool and detached

Discussion and negotiations are focused on topic

Showing too much emotion may detract from respectability

AFFECTIVE CULTURES

Willing to reveal their feelings and thoughts

Warm and enthusiastic behaviour

Discussion and negotiations focused on people

Consider those from neutral contexts as cold or less important

NEUTRAL Portugal Denmark

Ethiopia Sweden Italy

Japan Netherlands Switzerland

Poland Hungary Malaysia

New Zealand England France

Hong Kong Czech Republic Ireland

Austria USA Argentina

China Mexico Russia

Indonesia Finland Venezuela

India Belgium Saudi Arabia

Bulgaria Brazil Cuba

Canada Norway Spain

Singapore Thailand Egypt

Australia Greece Kuwait

UAE Israel AFFECTIVE

Nigeria Germany

Source: adapted from Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (2005)

SRI LANKAN ENVIRONMENT

Public displays of emotion are frowned upon

Strict order of hierarchy – religious influences

Face integral to the reputation and honour of an individual or family

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FRENCH?

Affective culture of France

Avoid debates and interruptions

Be aware of the spiritual influences that surround decision making

Decisions always made at the highest level

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Team player

Work/Life balance

Exhibit emotional and spiritual values

Workforce flexible and trainable

Loyalty and integrity

Friendly, easy going and fun loving

SOURCES

http://www.immi.se/jicc/index.php/jicc/article/view/135/103

http://academy.eurochambres.eu/upload/4b66b8228740e.pdf

http://web4.cs.ucl.ac.uk/uclic/people/n.berthouze/paper/IwC06.pdf

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/srilanka.html

http://www.iptu.co.uk/content/srilanka_business_cult.asp

http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/French-Business-Communication-Style.html