Research Resources
Databases
Dissertations
Electronic Books
Journal Locator
Other Catalogs
Research Guides
Search Engines
Subject Sites

Library Catalog
Building the Collection
Forms
Site Map

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:  ETIQUETTE

This guide is concerned with examining issues relating to a variety of topics dealing the cultural aspects of conducting international business: General advice on behaving respectfully abroad, country/region-specific suggested behaviors and cultural taboos, manners of address in both written and e-mail communications, national holidays/festivals. Other “gateways” and comprehensive sites which deal with aspects of international business may also contain information on business etiquette.


Asian Business Etiquette

•  Sponsored by Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (Singapore)
•  Profiles business etiquette practices for 15 Asian nations
•  “Provides tips to avoid major embarrassment for the unwary business traveler”
•  A country’s profile includes such topics as introductions, the role of “face,” business attire, forms of address/titles, hours of business/holidays, and customs specific to the country under consideration
•  Excellent essay on gift giving in Asia
•  Excellent; while not extensive, this site does a great job of covering its area


Business Culture Around the World: Books and Resources

•   Maintained by Foster Business Library, University of Washington
•   Bibliography of over 130 print titles in the library pertaining to international business etiquette; includes general, regional and country-specific resources
•   Many of these resources may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
•   Excellent assortment of titles (although a few are somewhat dated)


Business Etiquette in Foreign Countries Research Guide

•   Maintained by the University of Mississippi Libraries
•   Brief guide to locating information on utilizing proper business etiquette in other nations
•   Best feature of this guide is its advice on constructing productive searches in online catalogs; suggests appropriate subject headings to utilize in researching print resources on the etiquette aspects of international business
•   Topics include business etiquette, business travel, “culture shock,” business negotiations in other countries
•   Very limited web links
•   This is an excellent resource for anyone trying to locate print resources on business etiquette in an international business setting


Business Netiquette International

•   Created by Frederick Pearce for Pearman Cooperation Alliance
•   Guide to business etiquette for e-mail use in international business (“not for personal messages between business colleagues”)
•   Gives tips for the following: originating e-mail, mailheads and signatures, capitalizing, first names and titles, unsolicited e-mail and spamming
•   Links to “International Telephone Dialing Codes” and “International Addresses and Salutations”
•   Excellent; provides very useful information for an important - but often overlooked - aspect of communication in international business


Escape Artist

•   Targeted for the expatriate community, this site contains a wealth of information for living overseas on a temporary or permanent basis
•   Links to general information sites and “Country Profiles”
•   Also links to embassies, tax havens, retirement advice, offshore investments, government links, real estate, world newspapers, hospitals worldwide
•   Excellent; while much of the information for a country is commercial (banking, investments, job opportunities), there are enough cultural/lifestyle links for many countries to make this site very worthwhile as a source for overall country information


Executive Planet

•   Provides in-depth cultural profiles for 45 countries
•   Profiles for each nation include the following information: negotiation strategies, entertaining, appointments, gift-giving, addressing others, business dress, public behavior, conversation (which includes both topical areas that are welcome and those to avoid)
•   Profiles also include an essay on a nation's management culture and a general country profile
•   Outstanding; while not comprehensive, this site provides excellent, in-depth practical etiquette awareness information for those nations which it profiles


ExpatExchange.com

•   Sponsored by Burlingame Interactive, Inc.
•  “It is our goal to build the most useful online pool of resources for individuals living outside their country”
•   Contains links to wide-ranging business/cultural sites for 120 countries
•   Many links are commercial, but many are devoted to coping with daily life situations (healthcare, “lifestyles,” shopping, etc.)
•   For those relocating to the U.S., provides similar information by state
•   Includes discussion groups/forums
•   Searchable
•   Excellent; a great resource for those who seek information on living abroad


Getting Through Customs: Articles Library

•   Sponsored by Getting Through Customs, Inc.
•   Links to a fascinating array of 70 articles from various sources, including such topics as gift-giving, drinking customs and toasts around the world, making the right impressions, using appropriate gestures
•   Also includes over 30 short articles on business etiquette for individual countries
•   Provides ordering information for book titles concerned with intercultural business
•   Excellent; this site’s best feature is its well-chosen articles about topics not readily found elsewhere


GlobalEDGE: Resource Desk: Reference: Culture

•   Created and maintained by the University of Michigan State University Center for International Business & Research (MSU-CIBER), globalEDGE is one of the most outstanding resources for international business
•   Links to over 30 select websites which are concerned with the role of business etiquette in conducting international business
•   Links to sites for general, regional or country-specific resources
•   Annotations accompany each link
•   Outstanding; the links selected are among the best available on this topic


Holidays and Festivals

•   Sponsored by JourneyMart.com
•   Provides holiday/festival information for over 240 countries
•   Excellent; useful site because it allows travelers (including business travelers) to plan their visits to a country at times when visits wouldn’t conflict with local holidays/festivals


International Addresses and Salutations

•   Condensed from "Merriam Webster's Guide to International Business Communications"
•   Provides instructions on appropriate forms of address and salutations for written communications in 23 countries
•   For bilingual countries (Belgium, Canada), examples are provided in both languages
•   Links to “International Telephone Dialing Codes” and “Business Netiquette International”
•   Each sample includes postal address, followed by address elements and salutation
•   Excellent; not extensive, but very useful for what it covers


International Business Etiquette

•   Maintained by Lydia LaFaro for Arizona State University Libraries
•   Bibliography of print titles in the library’s collection pertaining to intercultural communication as it relates to international business
•   Many of these resources may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
•   Arranged geographically by continent, then by country
•   Includes a limited number of links to related websites
•   Suggests subject terms for efficient online catalog searches of resources pertaining to this field
•   Excellent assortment of titles (although a few are somewhat dated)


International Business Etiquette and Manners

•   Provides business/cultural etiquette information for 31 countries, 6 regions
•  “Recommended and used by college professors to teach their business school students the importance of understanding the uniqueness of cultures around the world”
•   Country profiles include advice on the following: brief introduction, appearance suggestions, behavior; also links to related sites
•  “Resource Page” links to print and web resources of international business etiquette in general
•   Very well-written profiles of countries; not extensive, but does an admirable job of covering those countries under consideration


International Business Etiquette Internet Sourcebook 2007

•   Sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, British Columbia Regional Office
•   Links to 64 sites for business etiquette information for 39 countries; includes links to region-specific sites
•   Also links to sites for general guides for international business etiquette
•   Annotations accompany links
•   Especially useful for Asian guides
•   Last updated July 2005
•   Excellent; not extensive, but does an admirable job of covering those countries under consideration


Monster: Work Abroad

•   Sponsored by Monster.com
•   Directory of articles on various aspects of working abroad, including locating jobs, profiles of countries/regions, city guides, international job opportunities for specific industries/occupations
•   Most appropriate topics for this guide are articles on “culture shock/relocation”, “global etiquette,” and “international faux pas”
•   Many articles are accompanied by links to additional pertinent information
•   Outstanding; this is a very useful guide for anyone contemplating working abroad or conducting business in other countries; the articles are very practical (and often humorous)


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 10/01; updated 1/05, 7/06; links last checked 1/08

back to top