Blog Post 4: Business Meetings

Hola! I’m back on the blog now for my next blog post. So the next blog post is as followed:

For this post, return to the skill builder for Fostering Intercultural Communication. Describe in writing the intercultural 
scenario that you observed for that task and present an interpretation in light of your understanding of cultural norms 
and values and the fundamentals of effective communication.

During my holidays, I used to tag along with my dad whenever he has any business meeting. My dad has adopted an informal way of holding meetings in which he doesn’t like having one in an office. His favorite joint when it comes to holding meeting with foreign client is the Straits Kitchen, Hyatt Hotel. Partly because a large pool of his client is Muslim and Straits Kitchen is one of the two Halal fine dining in Singapore. The ambience is also suitable as it is a balance of informal and a formal setting. I usually sit at the table next to them, chatting with the restaurant’s manager or doing Sudoku. YES, a self-professed geek I am!

Once seated and placing their order for drinks, my dad tends to socialize first. Usually, it runs along the lines of:

• How's the family doing?
• Manchester United lost again!
• So, how do you find Singapore's food?
  

Anything that involves family, health and general interest. This part of socializing tends to occur over the entire meal. It may take a good hour since the buffet spread may probably take that long to cover. After the last plate has been cleared from the table, my dad will order another round of drinks before officially starting the business discussions. It’s usually very quick and most probably is over in 20-30 minutes.

However, after one of his business meetings with an American business partner, his partner made a ribbing remark about how in America, they always get straight to business first before socializing. My dad kind of took that remark to heart and throughout the whole journey home in the car, he kept asking me whether he was rude.

I personally feel that my dad didn’t do any harm. Since he has been hosting clients from the Middle East, they tend to discuss personal issues before business. I think that Asians tend to be interested in building long-term relationships. This is in contrast with some other countries such as America, where the purpose of the meal is to discuss the matter at hand (i.e. the business) before socializing.

So what say you?

Blog post #3

ISSUE

Singapore’s aggressive campaign to create awareness regarding the local arts scene is visible with the introduction of new museums and festivals being held here. With the recent opening of the Peranakan Museum as well as the upcoming Singapore Biennale, the Government has pumped in a fortune in making Singapore an international arts hub. In recent years, there are concern voices on Singapore youth being politically apathetic. However, some have noticed that Singapore youth are also apathetic towards the local arts scene in Singapore. Is this really true?

GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTION

Is Singapore youth REALLY apathetic towards the local arts scene and why do they do so?

HYPOTHESIS

Singapore youth today ARE apathetic towards the local arts scene because they feel that the type of local arts scene here is out of their general mainstream preferences. (too avant-garde etc)

PURPOSE STATEMENT

Objective

It is to inform the National Arts Council regarding the level of awareness among youths on the local arts scene. Another objective is to identify the causes of such sentiments among Singapore youths. This report would enable NAC to evaluate on whether they should continue promoting the local arts scene.

TARGET AUDIENCE

ARTS SOCIETY IN SINGAPORE

This report could benefit aesthetic companies such as local theatre companies so that they will know what kind of theatre performance would attract the youths. This goes the same for the music industry. 

NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL AND YOUTHS THEMSELVES

This report could also expose the youths (especially the respondent from the survey) to the current local arts event that has been held and what plans the National Arts Council has in the future. In this way, the survey itself is a tool itself to increase awareness to those who are clueless regarding the local arts scene.

WHY A SURVEY?

An attitudinal survey is very much needed to gauge the level of awareness among youths today on their understanding of the local arts scene. It can also be a medium for them to voice their opinions and suggestions on whether the National Arts Council are doing enough to generate such interest. It can also be a tool in finding the root cause of such disinterest, if any. With this, NAC would be able to tackle the problem head on.