How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries 8. What will you need to know in 2010 or 2020 to work in Asia? As Hans Koehler pointed out in his Preface, we live in changing times. In this century China and India are changing the economic balance of the world. But many of the cultural tenets presented in Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia took hundreds or thousands of years to develop. These stable precepts help us understand why people behave differently around the world, and they will help you to avoid global marketing faux pas | 44 Kiss Bow or Shake Hands Asia adat common law has become one of the major stabilizing factors maintaining the traditional rural societies. The military is the main arbiter of power in the government. Issues of Equality Inequality In most organizations there is a strong authoritarian hierarchical system that demands obedience of subordinates. Although there are strong ethnic identities there is also a strong national identity that is taught to all children in the primary school years. The husband is considered the head of the household but the wife is not inferior in status and both are expected to cooperate in maintaining their household and family. Equal rights for women have always been upheld in the community. Nevertheless Indonesia has a multiethnic society with many historic antagonisms. In particular ethnic Chinese and Christian Indonesians are sometimes the targets of antagonism. 3 BUSINESS PRACTICES_ Punctuality Appointments and Local Time Although the majority of Indonesians are Muslim Indonesia does not follow the traditional Islamic work week pattern Friday is the Islamic holy day so the traditional Muslim weekend is Thursday and Friday . Instead the work week runs four full days Monday through Thursday then two half days on Friday and Saturday. As a foreign businessperson you are expected to be on time for all business appointments. This is especially true when you are meeting someone with a higher social standing than yourself. In general the higher the status of an Indonesian the more he or she is likely to appreciate punctuality. Sometimes Indonesian laborers consider themselves punctual if they arrive within a few hours of an appointment. Executives and government officials will understand promptness but they still have the prerogative to make a subordinate wait. A majority of Indonesian businesspeople are Chinese. Their culture is very work oriented and they are likely to be prompt. Indonesia 45 Other .
