Living and Doing Business With Australians
Word Count (excluding titles): 1159
The Commonwealth of Australia has a population of twenty two million and consists of six states and two territories and has the thirteenth largest economy in the world. The majority of the population gathers around the coastal cities and has one of the lowest population densities in the world. Australia is a country overflowing with natural beauty and unparalleled multiculturalism. To do business in Australia requires a deep understanding of the cultural complexity. Home to a great many immigrants this island continent is one of the world's most culturally diversity nation. Nearly twenty-five percent of Australian residents were born in another country. Even greater percentages have parents or grandparents who were immigrants or refugees from a vast range of nations. This rich diversity, coupled with the indigenous population, presents the businessman with unique opportunities and challenges.
Doing Business
The range of cultural heritage in Australia is embraced and strengthened by the Australian sense of equality. They have a long standing egalitarian culture where differences in rank or social standing receive no special treatment. Egalitarianism penetrates all facets of life and is noticeable in the business world. Australians, at all business levels, appreciate brevity and adopt a more down-to-earth approach to business. They communicate in a direct and informal way and sidestep academic or business qualifications. Instead, modesty and mutual respect are expected. Achievements are not as high of a priority in Australia as they are in other countries. Australians in general aim to accomplish modest goal without long excessive sacrifice.
Australian managers are no different. In business they prefer to get straight down to business and are generally direct, informal, and matter-of-fact in discussions. Business is usually conducted on a first name basis as opposed to the use of titles. The Australian...
While managerial hierarchies exist in the Australian organization, the primary purpose is for clarity of decision-making. Australians do not appreciate the practice or perception of pulling rank. Authority to make vital business decisions is not always given to executives, but may be in the hands of lower-level employees. Managers are expected to be fair, and willing to communicate directly and freely with co-workers and subordinates. They can expect to be challenged or questioned by their coworkers even when they have expertise or position.
Australians negotiate with a win/win perspective. Presentations should be made without high-pressure techniques or bells and whistle salesmanship. Australian businesses value fact base presentations with clear cost benefit details. Bargaining is not expected nor appreciated therefore offers should be made with a modest margin for negotiation or accommodation. If sales hype is identified, the Australians will challenge the presenter. The merits of business partners, organization, product, or service will be vetted and must demonstrate reliability, honesty, quality before joint ventures commence.
Business protocols in Australia be perplexing and, at times, seem to have a double standard. For example, appointments are strongly encouraged and relatively easy to schedule but are often changed or delayed due to various circumstances such as holidays or labor strikes. Punctuality is expected and it is important to arrive early; however Australians tend to hold new business partners and foreigners to a higher standard of punctuality than they themselves exhibit. If a foreigner business executive keeps an Australian waiting, it is seen as arrogant or pompous, while a tardy Australian is viewed as relaxed and played-back. Meetings are serious events where participates expect to get to the point and make decisions quickly and without fan-fare, however they are generally relaxed in…
