Environmental factors in international management

Singapore's Socio-Cultural Environment stephv73

The Socio-Cultural Environment of Singapore Compared to That of the United States

For anyone wishing to do business in Singapore, it must be remembered that the socio-cultural environment in Singapore is very different from that of the United States. In order to conduct business in Singapore successfully, these differences need to be learned and accounted for in all business transactions, in customer care, and in employee management. Otherwise, one runs the risk of offending someone, of breaking the law, or of alienating potential and current customers. This paper gives a brief overview of the socio-cultural environment of Singapore, and touches on the things that are important for an American businessperson to know before doing business in that nation.

One of the first things that should be remembered about Singapore is that education is extremely important to people there. The academic approach in Singapore is very precise. It measures an individual's capability, competence, and intelligence in order to determine how successful that person is going to be viewed, and it emphasizes good results (Maysami). This approach has a tendency to cause students to simply memorize and regurgitate information, and stifles individual creativity. This is something that should be taken into account when conducting business in Singapore. The people running other businesses one's own business will be dealing with, as well as any employees one may hire, will probably be very technical and precise in their work, but will not display a great deal of initiative or creativity on their own.

This lack of initiative and creativity can also be attributed to the high value that those in Singapore place on authority. Singaporeans, in general, have a great deal of respect and awe for authority. They are used to discipline from such authority, and they value following the law. This is also something that is drilled into them in school, and it follows most of them into their adult lives. One can, therefore, expect strict compliance with the rules from employees, customers, and business associates in Singapore. This may be good for keeping things running smoothly, but might not be so good for innovation in the company (something that can be helpful from time to time in increasing competitiveness).

The law itself is very strict in Singapore, and the multitude of minute and detailed rules and the harsh and swift penalties for breaking them have contributed to the total obedience to authority that defines this culture. Singapore has often been referred to as a "fine" culture, meaning that there is a fine for just about every conceivable offense there (Aglionby). Even chewing gum is a finable offense in Singapore. Police, too, are rampant and seemingly on every street corner. Most of the time, if someone commits a crime, it is not long before they are caught. The culture also encourages people to snitch on each other to the authorities, so it behooves an entrepreneur in Singapore to take this into consideration when contemplating any action there.

Of course, this is all in stark contrast to the culture in the United States. The culture of the United States promotes and encourages individual creativity and initiative. In fact, people who display these qualities are often looked upon as heroes and as the embodiment of "the American dream." Authority is not so feared and obeyed in the United States, either, and it is not uncommon for people to pride themselves on having been creative enough to have circumvented the law on matters that seem small and inconsequential. It also helps that many of the laws in the United States are either not monitored or not enforced, thus contributing to the ease of these types of actions.