Introduction
The open market in the Czech Republic has opened the opportunity for Steve Kafka to invest in a franchise of Chicago Style Pizza. To be able to accomplish his new business venture Steve needs to identify differences and incompatibilities between U.S. and Czech Republic cultures. Steve needs to identify comparative advantages, apply Hofstede’s Fourth Dimensions in the Czech environment, learn how to deal in the Czech’s business environment and learn the opportunities and risks that he can encounter investing in the Czech Republic.
Major Differences and Incompatibilities between U.S. and Czech Cultures
Prague is the capital of Czech Republic a small place where word mouth reputation is extremely important. Good or bad news are spread quickly. The Czechs are usually more reserved than the Americans and this create nervousness in the Czech culture. To create a business relationship with the Czechs the person interested in a business venture must start slowly. The person must wait until it Czechs friends presents other business contacts and in this way create relations inside the business. The Czechs finds suspicious that a person try to establish it business through emails or in a rush (Doing Business in the Czech Republic, 2008).
The Czechs prefers to know the person and the company background and if they feel comfortable with the person they will make a deal with the person in a follow up meeting. Is important for the Czechs the establishment of long-term relationships (Doing Business in the Czech Republic, 2008).
In contrast, to the American culture the Czechs do not smile as social signal of greeting. This can cause the impression that the Czechs are cold an ...