Introduction
Steve Kafka, an American of Czech origin and a franchisor for Chicago Style Pizza, has decided to expand his business into the Czech Republic. Steve knows his decision is risky because he had to overcome a great deal of difficulties to become a franchisor. Steve anticipates he will face some of these difficulties again at the new location in Prague, Czech Republic. Although he was born in the U.S., he has family and friends in the Czech Republic, speaks Czech fluently, and has visited the country of his origin several times. An attempt is being made to find out the various cultural differences between American and Czech cultures and their affect on Steve Kafka's decision to expand his business.
Differences between American and Czech cultures
In order for Steve to do business in Czech he has to take the various cultural differences into account to mitigate any risk that might arise out of the cultural differences. In the United States a great deal of fast food restaurants offer people foods like fried chicken, hamburgers, pizza, french fries. These foods are popular in most segments of the population reflecting a busy lifestyle as much as preference. In Czech dining out is a rarity and Czechs only eat pizza as a snack on the street sold by street vendors. Friends often socialize in pubs, wine bars and coffeehouses. People eat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right however, in America people generally eat with a fork in the hand with which they write.
In Czech eye contact is very important while conversing. They might stare at other people in public without any bad intention. Gesturing with hands is often used to emphasize the meaning in a conversation. Speaking loudly is considered impolite but is commo ...