Introduction
Culture plays a key role in how business is conducted. Consequently, different countries conduct business in different ways, depending on their culture. Business practice, communication, and how management is done differ from one country to another as influenced by the local cultures. An understanding and being aware of the culture of the individuals that one is doing business with is critical for success in business negotiations and interactions. It is, therefore, crucial for businesses that intend to expand into other countries to understand how they communicate, effects of culture on their perceptions of time, and how one is expected to relate with the management or those in authority. Understanding how people communicate in both verbal and non-verbal communication and how the related aspects are perceived is essential too. Doing business with people from another cultural background requires one to ignore preconceived ideas about the people and make an effort to learn about their culture. In this paper, Canadian culture is explored and how the different cultural aspects of the culture are expressed in business practices in the country. In addition, a comparison of the cultural and business practices in both the United States and Canada is presented. Implications of Canada’s culture, business practices in the country, and how they compare with those of the United States are also discussed.
Major elements and dimensions of culture in Canada
Communication
Canadians value their personal space and privacy in great way hence they are more reserved (Vance, 2009) . They take some time to be warm towards newcomers. However, this does not imply that they are unwelcoming. Canadians are civil and polite. As a result, the first contact with a Canadian should not involve a discussion of personal issues. However, this could change with time as the relationship grows or if it is fitting within the scope of the meeting. In situations that require lining up, people from Canada need around fourteen inches of space. The rule is also applicable when one is speaking with a Canadian. This is especially applicable if the person speaking is a male addressing a female. Both men and women guard their individual space at times with active signals or body language which should be observed and monitored always. The rule varies from one province to another. In Quebec for example, individuals may not demand a lot of space. They can greet one another with more intimate signs such as a hug or a kiss. Canadians’ need for space is especially strong if they are speaking or handling strangers (Cultural Information- Canada, 2019).
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Making eye contact in the Canadian way of communication indicates respect and being sincere. It also indicates an actual engagement between those communicating. Although they will not always ensure eye contact, failure to make eye contact is seen as an indicator of insecurity and lack of honesty. Majority of the issues revolving around communication entail tone of one’s voice, being direct, and eye contact. These are ingrained in a complicated dynamics related to class in the society and gender. More prestigious individuals in the society are allowed to breach these rules and allow or put boundaries on the extent of expression in communication. Some of the detested personal habits related to other cultures include clearing the throat in an aggressive way, failure to wear deodorant, burping while in the presence of other people, chewing with an open mouth among others (Cultural Information- Canada, 2019). Canadians shake hands especially while in public or in professional environments. Most Canadians find moving hands a lot while speaking distracting and in some cases very annoying. There are some who perceive it as an indicator of insecurity.
A gesture that one should avoid completely is waiving the index finger one side to the other when speaking. The gesture is usually used on children and it implies that one cannot do whatever that he/she intends to do or is doing, it means no. when meeting a Canadian for the first time, discussion on topics such as work are essential and acts as a social marker. When meeting an individual for business reasons conversation can be restricted to neutral topics. People from Canada are also conscious of identity and as a consequence, it asking about where one is from is a common question when meeting for the first time. This is meant to determine the limits of belonging. Canadians have a very strong sense of their identity which is meant to show the difference between different provinces and between Canadians and Americans.
The aspect of humor is a very sensitive issue in Canada due to political correctness which is prevalent in most social circles (Cultural Information- Canada, 2019). It is therefore important to understand the proper boundaries of humor in order to avoid offending other people. In general, communication in Canadian society is moderately not direct which most probably shows a combination of North American and British way of communication. Despite the fact that majority of the Canadians will disagree in an open way, they in most cases opt to do it in a way that is diplomatic. The communication style is pragmatic and depends on application of common sense. People coming from other cultures in which communication is very direct may need to slow down on their demeanor as well as the tone of their voice to avoid appearing as threatening. In Canada, one is expected to speak in a way that is straightforward and support the claims using examples. In addition, they avoid making exaggerated statements/claims and will become suspicious if a claim appears too good to be true.
Religion
Canada allows freedom of religion and pluralism ( Beaman & Beyer, 2008) . Each person has the freedom to any religion affiliation as long as it does not involve breaking of law. Canadians do not have an official religion but Christianity is the main religion in the country (Cultural Atlas). The Bible for example is commonly used when swearing in most legal practices and prayers are usually conducted when opening most official function. Secularism is also practiced in the country and individuals are expected to show respect to different religions at the society and government levels. Based on the 2011 survey on households throughout the country, the religion that had the most followers was Christianity. Approximately 22.1 million individuals in Canada reported affiliation to Christianity. This figure represents approximately 67.3 percent of the country’s total population. Catholics are the majority Christians with about 12.8 million individuals according to the 2011 survey. The same survey shows that an estimated 2.4 million Canadians were affiliated to Muslim, Hindu, Buddhism, and Sikh religions (Cultural Atlas). This represents 7.2 percent of the country’s population. Other religions such as Jewish and Aboriginal religions are also practiced in Canada but few people identify with them. This represents approximately one percent of Canada’s population. A quarter of Canada’s population is not affiliated to any religion.
Canadians avoid discussing religion in public or with other people that they are not familiar with. In addition, they have the freedom to decide if to identify as religious or not in order to avoid any likely confrontation with other people or being judged. However, discussions revolving around religion are nevertheless accepted. Most Canadians do not appreciate it when a person attempts to promote his/her religion or defend it. Immigrants in Canada are the most religious, in addition, the French speaking population of Canada is perceived to be more religious than the English speaking population. The number of Canadians who are not affiliated to any religion has been on the increase in the recent past. The increase in religion lack of affiliation to religion is linked to immigrants from China which is the leading country in lack religious affiliation throughout the world. Replacing of values and different beliefs is also considered a cause of the increasing number of people who are not affiliated to any religion (Young, 2008) .
Ethics
Canadians are very conscious of their responsibility towards the society. Although they are individualistic as characterized by their personal values that include great importance on preserving personal space, contribution towards the good of the society is a major priority. Canadians participate in volunteer activities, donations, and general maintenance and affinity of the society. They also have immense respect for the environment hence their ethical conduct towards the environment.
Values and Attributes
Among the core values of the people of Canada is equality, being fair, social justice, and being inclusive. These values are seen in the way the country is governed that incorporates health care for the general public, high taxes in an effort to redistribute wealth, making same-sex marriages legal, eradication of capital punishment for offenders, and suppressing the far right politics (Cultural Atlas). They value acceptance and being tolerant with one another. Throughout history, Canadians have accepted an attitude that is not only open but also liberal, of goodwill, and accepting other people who may appear different. As a result of acceptance and being tolerant, the country is diverse in many things besides culture such as beliefs and opinions among others . Respect is also an important value in the Canadian culture. The value is manifested in their politeness, being punctual and tolerant, and social order. Therefore, talking disparagingly about an individual’s appearance, beliefs, or status is taken as harassment. To ensure that politeness and diplomacy is practiced, communication is mostly indirect in a moderate way. The distinct values of the Canadian society reflect contemporary western civilization.
Canada values egalitarianism where all people are considered equal as a result, hierarchy in the Canadian society is not easily noticeable. Every person deserves equal rights in the eyes of Canadians regardless of who they are or what they belief. Order is also an important value for Canadians. Maintaining order and preservation of space are very important in the Canadian society. They value their individual privacy. Disruptive conduct such as speaking when ones turn has not come, talking in a loud manner, and cutting in line are not acceptable. Decorum is an essential aspect of ensuring order and showing respect to the space of others. Punctuality is another important value for Canadians. It is considered as an indication of respect. People in this country are expected to ensure that they arrive by the agreed time or some few minutes before. In the same way, meeting deadlines is taken as a very serious matter and it is equal to honoring a commitment or a sign of integrity.
Political correctness is valued in Canada because of its multicultural nature. Canadians refrain from uttering words or doing things that seem offensive or appear to marginalize other people. Understanding how to behave in a politically correct way is important in order to ensure harmony in the society. Another important value among Canadians is regionalism. Majority of Canada’s population have a very high affinity for their regions than their country. The regional identities were developed after the Europeans occupied the continent among the first tribes in the region. In the current Canada, regionalism is seen in the different identities related to the various provinces, economy, and everyday textures of Canadians’ lives throughout the country. People from Atlantic regions for example consider themselves more reserved while those in Ontario conservative.
Manners and Customs
It is recommended that foreigners or visitors in Canada attempt to fit in within their customs. Canadians are known to be friendly and polite hence visitors are expected to make effort and return the favor by showing some good manners. It is always wise to avoid confusing Canadians with U.S. nationals because they are most likely to take it as offensive. When meeting a Canadian for the first time, it is expected that one will shake hands during introduction. One may also shake hands prior departure too. Brief hugs are increasingly becoming common among close friends in Canada particularly among women. For close family members kissing is acceptable. However, Canadians of French origin occasionally give light kisses on the cheeks when engaging in friendly greetings (Mccullough, 2020).
Canadians find it an offense and rude not to shake someone’s hand after he/she extends a hand for greetings. It is considered an overt action of being inhuman. It is only done when an individual has horribly wronged or offended the other one. In addition, a person can decline shaking hands with another if the person in question is perceived as terrible such that greeting him/her in a way that is polite is seen as scandalous. Shaking the hand of an individual who is considered controversial is also at times taken as a way of making peace or being accepted (Mccullough, 2020).
Offering gifts to strangers in the Canadian society is not common. However, gifts can be offered when an individual has done favor or owes another person gratitude. During holidays when people are expected to exchange gifts, deciding to offer a gift to another person is determined by the extent of closeness and a person’s tradition. Although gifts given when there is no accession that requires one to do so can be a good gesture, the gesture can cause a lingering sense of awkwardness in the person being offered the gift especially if the gift is expensive. Gifts in form of money are only given to family members in most cases. It is a usual thing to one in a while treats friends in different ways such as paying for a meal or a drink. However, the gesture is also controversial and most Canadians refuse when another person attempts to foot their bills. Expressing some kind of polite resistance when another person offers to buy something is perceived as good manners.
It is expected in the Canadian society for one to offer a tip after having a meal when dinning in a Canadian restaurant. The least amount of tip expected is 15 percent of the total bill to be paid. Over-tipping also happens and is acceptable when exceptional services have been provided. Failure to tip is generally seen as being extremely rude and is quickly noticed. Several other professionals in working in different fields in the country also expect to receive tips too. Delivery staff and hairdressers among others also receive tips. In order to avoid confusion on who to tip or not, there are guides used to help make the decision. The Canadian way of tipping is the same as the one practiced in the United States and the manuals used in the United States are in most cases used for reference in the Canadian society too.
Social Structures and Organizations
Social classes
Although there are social classes/categories in the Canadian society, they are much considered of less importance as seen in the society’s pursuits for equality for all. The top class is the owning class. It includes the powerful elite in the society. In the Canadian society, money is seen as a means of accessing material things and power. The owning class therefore possesses a lot of power. When this class is part of corporate leaders, the decisions they make impact the employment status of many people in Canada. Those who own the media in this class influence the country’s collective identity. As philanthropists, the owning class institute foundations that assist social activities they believe in (Little, 2014). When they take in political campaigns, they impact politicians and provide funds for campaigns with the aim of protecting their individual economic interests.
From a historical perspective, Canadian society has always recognized differences between wealth that is inherited (old money) and one that is gained through ones earnings and hard work (new money). Although the two have the same worth, traditionally, they have different social status. Individuals who belong to the old money group are found in the upper class and possess high levels of prestige. They socialize their families to understand the customs and expectations that are related to their wealth and status. In most cases, people belonging to this class do not engage in work in order to earn a wage. On the contrary, they study for subjects such as business or law with the intention of managing and protecting their family wealth. Those who belong to new money on the other hand are not inclined towards customs and norms of the elite group. The group members have not attended prestigious schools and have no developed ties with the old money group. Canadians with new money may show off their wealth by purchasing items such as sports cars and big houses. In addition, they may still show some character traits of the middle and lower classes (Little, 2014). According to Warner (2014), some politicians in Toronto such as Doug Ford are very wealthy but appear as average people who collaborate with the blue-collar people they lead against those who are wealthy and belonging to the elite group.
The Canadian middle class society is divided into two, upper and lower middle classes. Most Canadians consider themselves as milled class. The upper middle class group members mainly comprise of Canadians who have a bachelor’s degree or a post graduate degree. Their careers include management, medicine and law (Little, 2014). Members of the lower middle group in most cases have a bachelor’s or associate degree. They mostly stud in technical or a community institution. The key concern of this social group is comfort. They work hard and ensure that they live lives that are comfortable. The upper group of the middle class goes after careers that enable them to earn an income that is comfortable. According to Gilbert (2010), they ensure that they give their children good and quality education, love going for vacations and leisure, and buy nice cars and houses for their family members.
The lower middle class in the Canadian society comprise of people who work under the supervision of those in the upper middle class group. They mainly do technical jobs and those supporting the administration and management. When compared to the jobs done by the traditional working class, the present day Canadian lower middle class have jobs that are more prestigious and well paying. The Canadian traditional working class which is also at times known as the lower class is divided into working, poor, and under classes. This group of Canadians has less education and the income is smaller when compared to that of the other classes. Although most jobs in this category need skills or some form of training, most require little past experience or skills.
As a result of equality in opportunities in Canadian society, the society is considered open. The Canadian society is stratified in a way that is open hence upward mobility is considered easier and is celebrated. Upwards movement refers to improvement from a social class to the one above in individual’s present class. In Canada, people celebrate individuals who rise from poverty to riches. However, the number of people who rise from poverty to riches is minimal. In the Canadian society, upward mobility is not all about being wealthy or famous. Individuals who attain university education, get promoted at work, or get a spouse earning a good salary or income moves up the social ladder. The Canadian society is also characterized by downward, intergenerational, intra-generational, and structural mobility. Structural mobility occurs when changes in the society make it possible for the society’s members to climb up and down the social ladder (Little, 2014). It is attributed to the changes that occur in the whole society.
The Canadian economy experienced a lot of expansion in its industrialization in the beginning of the twentieth century (Boyd, 2008) . This resulted into growth in economy, better living standards as well as a structural mobility in the upward direction. However, with the present day economy in Canada, recession, and outsourcing labor from other countries, unemployment in the country has been increasing (Boyd, 2008) . As a result, majority have suffered economic challenges leading to a downward structural mobility in the country. Most Canadians are of the opinion that individuals climb up classes as a result of their personal effort and hard work. They also move down because of their own individual actions. In a society that offers equal opportunities to all, Canadians believe that getting rewards is equivalent to a person’s efforts and hard work directed towards realizing the rewards. Canadians believe that a person’s social aspects such as class or gender among others should not be considered when considering merit and rewards.
Family
The family unit in Canada is diverse, complicated, and at the same time dynamic. It is the most adaptable social structure in Canada. It always responds to different issues such as culture, social, and economic factors. Although the way families in Canada look like has changed, the role of the family has remained intact. An average family in Canada is considered a nuclear family separate from its extended family. Although it is the common type of family, it is not the only expected kind of family. The number of single families has been increasing throughout Canada where most of them are led by women. A person’s gender is not an indication of an individual’s duties in the family. Both men and women have equal right and have the equal opportunities to pick the kind of contribution to make in the family (Mccullough, 2020). The family unit offers support to some extent through its paid labor.
As most Canadians tend to wait longer in life before beginning families, the average age at which major life events such as marriage happen is increasing. This can be attributed to the increased individualist inclination in men and women who desire to have a solid career for themselves first and maybe have more vacations and travel prior starting their own families. Present day Canadian women get their first children when they are older when compared to those in the past generations. Most parents also chose to have fewer children compared to the traditional families that had more children. Today, children tend to live longer in their parent’s household. In addition, there are demographic changes in the Canadian population characterized by an increase in the number of the elderly population in Canada. Canada was among the first countries to make legal same sex marriages. In addition, it was among the first to legalize LGBT communities. Entering into marriage because of economic or social intentions is not a common thing in Canada.
As a result of the evolving nature of the Canadian families and the increasing demands for a comfortable and quality life, families are trying to adapt by putting more effort in work and working more in order to meet their increasing needs. In response, employers in their attempt to deal with this current reality in the modern Canada are offering their employees’ flexibility that helps ensure a work and life balance. The number of elderly people still in the workforce has been increasing over the years and this has changed retirement plans and the workforce in the country. It is expected that most family members will stay in the workforce longer before retirement when compared to families in the previous generations where the number of seniors in the workforce was not high.
How are these elements and dimensions integrated by locals conducting business in the nation?
The business culture in Canada is characterized by some of the cultural dimensions of Canadian society. In addition, Canadian business culture is a combination of practices form America, Britain, and France. As a result, business practices may slightly vary from one region to another. Even in business settings, most Canadians affiliate themselves to their regions. Canadian business environment is ruled and guided by respect for different perspectives and ideas, equality, being diverse, fairness, and justice. From a traditional view, businesses in Canada have for a long time been hierarchical. However, this has generally flattened. It is therefore important to understand the structure of an organization of company before one enters into business negotiations with a Canadian business. Punctuality which is a key value in the Canadian culture is valued in business.
Being a more egalitarian society, people in Canada tend to be interdependent (Mccullough, 2020) . This is seen in their lack of distinctions between the different classes that exist in the society. In Canadian businesses, hierarchy is developed to ensure convenience. Those in senior leadership positions can be easily accessed and mangers depend on the workers and teams to provide their expertise. It is commonly considered a business custom for managers and the employees they manage to consult each other and exchange information or ideas in a free manner. Influenced by their culture, Canadians prefer communication that is clear and direct to the point in business. As previously seen, Canadians are individualistic and value individual space. The focus is on the individual and close family. As a result, the Canadian society is not closely knit together. This culture is also applicable in the business world in Canada. It is expected that employees should be reliant on themselves and show their own individual initiative. In addition, Canadians believe that an individual should receive rewards because of their hard work and merit regardless of their social class, gender or status. This is the same case in businesses/organizations. The decision to hire or promote an employee is made according to merit or proof of what a person has done or has the ability to do.
Canadians tend to make effort to achieve high performance levels both at work and sports. However, the business culture is characterized by respect to an individual’s achievements, success, and victory. Although Canadians work hard, they also enjoy individual interests in an attempt to have a balance between their work and life. Therefore, the Canadian culture can be said to be masculine in a moderate way. A masculine society according to Hofstede is characterized by competition and success. Being successful in this case is explained as being a winner or proven to be the best. This dimension in Canadian culture is evident in academics and work. Canadian nationals easily accept new ideas and opinions. As a result, it is a very diverse society. In a similar way, new ideas, innovation, willingness, and being open to accept new things such as products or services characterize the business environment in Canada. Canadians are open to new technologies, practices in how business is done, and different products. People living in Canada are tolerant of opinions presented by different people and they express freedom of expression (Mccullough, 2020) . Furthermore, Canadian culture can be said to be less inclined towards rules and emotional expression. As a consequence, rules are not emphasized at the work place as employees are expected to be self-driven and initiative. Moreover, businesses in Canada tend to be less worried about the future hence does not find unknown circumstances as a threat.
The focus on competition, successes, and honesty in the Canadian society is reflected in attention on realizing quick results in Canadian businesses. Canadians are considered a normative society hence the need for absolute truth in business dealings. As stated previously in the cultural dimensions of Canada, Canadians raise concerns if something sounds too good to be true and they prefer a truth that is not exaggerated. This applies in business too where truth and honesty is highly valued. In addition, Canadians are normative in the way they think. Even in business respecting traditions is emphasized. As seen in the social class section under social structures, Canadians are indulgent. Therefore, businesses and or organizations tend to allow employees some leisure time. In a business encounter, Canadians begin with a handshake before an individual’s and company’s introduction. After a meeting is over, one is expected to show gratitude by saying thank you. It is uncommon to give gifts in the business world just as it is in the usual day to day lives of Canadians. However, gifts can be given or offered if a business agreement has been arrived at. Due to the fact that Canada is bilingual, business cards in the country have two sides, one side in French while the other one is in English. These are usually given at the start of a meeting when greetings are being exchanged.
Canadians are very punctual about time and straight to the point. As a result, their business meetings are very formal although a very brief talk is allowed before the actual meeting begins. Any business presentations made are very short and concise and it is essential to apply figures and facts because Canadians value evidence. Exaggeration of the ability of one’s business is not acceptable and if an offer made is accepted, responses are given quickly and an agreement sealed with a handshake and the necessary documents. Communication in business settings is to some extent indirect just like in normal life of Canadians. Although allowed in business dealings, disagreements are presented in a way that is respectful and diplomatic. One of the core values of the Canadian society is respect to other people regardless of one’s opinions, views, status or religion (Mccullough, 2020) . Canadians of French origin accept interruption more when another person is talking compared to their Anglophone counterparts. Due to the fact that humor may not be taken well especially if it is considered offensive, it is usually limited in the business context. Maintaining distance is also ensured because Canadians value their space and the fact that they are individualistic. Ensuring eye contact is also expressed in business environments as it is taken as a sign of being respectful as well as being sincere. Canadians often ensure that they smile during business dealings or meetings and confidently approach the points they wish to present in a straight forward manner. Business communication is usually direct and there is no need to read into a message. Emails sent or phone calls made are usually direct to the point and succinct. Respect for everyone’s opinion is highly valued because Canadians believe that every person has the right to speak and be listened to. No decision is arrived to until every fact is presented and heard.
How do both of the above items compare with US culture and business?
Culture Comparison
Compared to the United States, Canada’s social mobility is higher. Canadians easily move up and down the social ladders when compared to the United States. This can be attributed to the fact that the inequality in the United States society is high when compared to Canada. In Canada, all people have an equal opportunity to succeed and make a living which is not the case with the United States. As a result, people from poor families or the lower social class in the United States find it challenging and hard to accumulate wealth and climb up the social ladder (Beeghley, 2015) .
Although there exists a lot of similarities between the Canadian and United States cultures, there are some significant differences in a few areas. In addition, there are essential differences in the culture of the two countries. Both Canada and the United States are multicultural. The two countries are occupied by people from different cultural backgrounds. As a result, the cultures in both are product of the different cultural groups in the countries. The cultural values in Canada and the United States are in most ways similar. Americans value individualism, time, equality, personal privacy, self-governance, being direct, work ethic, consumerism, informality, and competition. Americans find pride in being self-reliant and ability to take care of oneself ( Gilbert, 2014) . They also expect everyone else to be self-reliant too. Achievement of goals and success is seen as a product of a person’s hard work which is similar to the Canadian’s perception of the same. Privacy is a very important value in both cultures and some topics such as religion, gender or income among others are not discussed. Different from Canadians who are moderately direct, Americans value directness. They in most cases say what they think and are considered assertive in whatever they want. Assertiveness is considered as a very good thing in the United States which is different from the Canadian perspective of assertiveness which is moderate because Canadians value diplomacy and politeness.
Americans consider everyone equal and all people should have the same opportunity (Beeghley, 2015) . Men and women are accorded equal rights. However, different from Canada, scholars indicate that men are considered better than women especially in the workforce and earnings. Both countries do not have strongly ingrained social hierarchies and people consider one another equal. Similar to Canada, the United States family unit is the nuclear family with the extended family members living separately except for some few ethnic groups. In both cultures, the family unit is an indication of individualism. In addition, achievements such as those of rags to riches are celebrated in both countries. The most popular religion in the United States is Christianity similar to Canada. Although the American society is not based on a class system from a theoretical perspective, there exists some form of social stratification in aspects such as ethnicity and economics. Genders are equal in the American society. However, family and occupational roles are in most cases allocated along gender lines.
Canadians have a high acceptance level of new ideas, products, and willingness to give new things a try. Although Americans also accept new ideas, innovation, and show willingness in trying new things, their level of acceptance is relatively fair. They are also tolerant to different ideas from other people and they allow liberty for expression. Both cultures do not need many rules and express their emotions in a moderate way. Both Canadians and Americans are analytical about new information to determine if it is true or not. However, this does not mean that they are pragmatic. On the contrary, Americans are practical as evidenced by their “can do” belief. The reason as to why Americans analyze new information is that they possess strong perspectives on good and bad as portrayed by their concerns on issues such as abortion and euthanasia among others (Vargas, J. H., & Kemmelmeier).
Business Comparison
Management
The management style in Canada is mainly informal. Managers tend to build consensus and prevent authoritarianism. However, they value the ability to make decisions instead of flip-flopping. Americans on the other hand implement a management style that is individualistic. Therefore, managers are responsible for the decisions they make. American managers don’t easily compromise or engage in politics which can cause resentment when employees feel that their voices or opinions are not heard. The American society emphasize on freedom and justice for all people. This is portrayed through the focus on equal rights in the different institutions such as the government. Hierarchy is established for convenience purposes just like in the Canadian society. Therefore, employees can easily access and communicate with their managers and consult or share information with one another. In the same way as Canadians, employees in United States are self-reliant and show initiative. The decision to hire and promote a person is determined by merit or proof of what is done or can be done just like in Canada. This is driven by the values of justice and equality for all.
Performance
Different from the Canadian society that is moderately masculine; the United States is highly masculine. A masculine society is influenced by competition, achieving, and success where is explained as the person who wins or the best of all (Keith, 2013). This is instilled in Americans from childhood and goes throughout a person’s life in the same way that Canadians do. Consequently, the conduct of Americans whether in academics or work is based on a common value that everyone should make effort to be the very best that they can be. In addition, their behavior is based on the perspective that the person who wins takes all. This make Americans participate in conversations related to their success (Allyson & Denslow, 2019). Being successful is not essentially the key motivating factor among Americans. Ability to show the success is the main factor. Consequently, most employee assessment and evaluation systems in the United States are based on how well employees do their jobs.
In the American culture, the possibility of being able to do something exists and this leads to dynamism because Americans believe that they can always do something better. Typically, United States citizens live to work to enable them get rewards in terms of money and as a result get a better status that aligns with one’s ability to be good. Americans believe that some amount of conflict is essential in bringing out the best which is the ultimate goal for winning. Performance in American businesses is measured on the short term (Stewart-Allen, 2003). Reports in losses and profits are produced on a quarterly basis which plays a major role in driving people to make effort for quick results at work. The culture of striving for quick results and in the short term is the same in both cultures. Both societies take business with a lot of seriousness, professionalism, and being punctual are expected. The two cultures value time hence punctuality. However, when discussing contentious matters, Americans may seem to be more enthusiastic than Canadians. In addition, business in America heavily relies on facts and statistics in the same way as doing business in Canada (Stewart-Allen, 2003). However, one of the major differences in doing business in the two countries is that Canadians use an approach that is more oriented towards goals while Americans apply a scientific approach.
Communication
Communication in the American setting informal and participative to some extent. In addition, they easily do business or interact with other individuals with whom they are not very familiar with. As a result, Americans are usually bold enough to approach a possible counterpart with the intention of seeking information (Allyson & Denslow, 2019. The communication aspect in doing business in the two countries is similar in many ways. A first meeting with business partners in both countries requires one shake hands but not a hug. In addition, business partners address one another using their last names which come after Mr. or Ms. Blunt speech is mainly preferred by Americans and being tactful is considered a waste of valuable time. In contrast, Canadians as previously stated in this paper are to a greater extent indirect and their approach might be misinterpreted by Americans. Unlike United States where the official language of communication is English alone, Canadians have two official languages which are English and French. Although Americans speak Spanish too, it is not a requirement to learn the language. Canadians however, are take one of the two official languages as a second language depending on the region that one comes from in the country (Culture, 2018) . For those doing business in places such as Quebec or even Montreal, speaking in French or looking for an interpreter would be required. In the United States however, although Spanish is spoken by many in some places such as Miami, English is still used as the official language. Therefore, business cards in Canada are usually printed in such a way that one of the sides is in English while the other one is in French.
Business Meetings
As a result of divergence in the ways of communication in business settings in the two countries, business meetings appear different. Americans take pride in their egalitarian perspective and as a result people are encouraged to air their views or opinions and boldly disagree when there is need to. Consequently, a passionate confrontation despite not being based on a personal grudge may not be well taken by Canadians in a business meeting. Canadians have business meetings that are more reserved. Use of many gestures in business meetings is not encouraged in Canadian culture. In addition, business meetings are driven towards realization of harmony and agreement. Disagreements in Canadian business meetings are usually expressed in a polite and respectful manner. People are expected to take turns to speak because interrupting the other person is considered rude in Canadian culture. Business cards in Canada are exchanged before the start of a meeting while in the United States there is no formal way of giving them.
What are the implications for US businesses that wish to conduct business in that region?
United States businesses that wish to expand their businesses in Canada should take a careful consideration of Canadian culture and business etiquette. Although the there are many cultural similarities between the two countries, the few differences that exist should not be ignored because they play a major role in business activities (Waugh, 2011). Canadians are friendly, polite and open. The fact that they are open indicates that it is easier to introduce new products or business ideas in the country. The high degree of acceptance makes it possible for international businesses to penetrate the Canadian market (Neil, 2019). As identified in the Canadian culture section, Canadians easily accept or try new things hence making it easy to do business in the country. From a cultural perspective, the risk of American businesses expanding in the country is low and benefits can be great. The many similarities that exist between the two cultures offer familiarity benefits to U.S. businesses. The two countries have multiple customs in common such as shaking of hands when making the first contact in business meetings and several other cultural aspects applied in business. Both countries use English as an official language too. All these similarities make expanding business in Canada easy for United States businesses than in most other countries.
While U.S. businesses can enjoy benefits associated with expanding their businesses in Canada as a result of the similarities, failure of being insensitive to the differences can cause setbacks in business. The different regions in Canada also some cultural differences that U.S businesses should put into consideration. Quebec for example has major cultural differences and people here consider themselves more formal and reserved (Dheer et.al, 2014). An important factor that U.S businesses should put into consideration is communication differences because effective communication is important for success in business. If American investors are not sensitive about how communication is conducted in Canada, offense can be taken hence hamper business negotiations. They should try and fit in the Canadian culture and conduct business as it is conducted in the country without assuming that Canadians are in every way similar to Americans in terms of culture.
Conclusion
Different cultural aspects of Canadian society influence how people conduct business in the country. The cultural dimensions that impact businesses in Canada are Canadian values are respect, egalitarianism, social justice, and tolerance, among others. The dominant religion in Canada is Christianity, although Canadians accept other religions in the country. Both French and English are used as official languages in Canada. There are many cultural similarities between the United States and Canada. However, despite the similarities, Canadians do not like being confused for Americans because they value their identity, especially the ones related to the regions they come from in Canada. There are key differences in the two cultures, and this implies that U.S. businesses have to be careful about them when expanding into the country for their business ventures to succeed. U.S. businesses can find it easier to do business in Canada because of the many cultural similarities and the fact that Canadians’ degree of acceptance is high.
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