Cultural Diversity and Global Impact- Celebrating Unity Through Charity

Cultural Diversity and Global Impact- Celebrating Unity Through Charity

Business dinners are essential in creating a good relationship with business partners and learning about each other. Organizations may hold charity dinners to raise funds and attract investors by explaining what they specialize in and what they have achieved within a specified period. This business brief explains what international nonprofit organization leaders should expect when attending a charity dinner in China. The charity dinner will include a cultural exhibition of Julio Galan’s Tehuana en el Istmo de Tehuantepec, oil on canvas, 1987. The main parts of the business brief include China’s approach to the idea of a formal dinner, the cultural influences that have determined how people in China act in a professional setting, the aspects of a business dinner reflecting cultural meaning, the changes in traditional professional etiquette in reaction to new global influences and the potential problems that the guests attending the charity dinner may encounter at the dinner.

How China Approaches the Idea of a Formal Dinner

China is among the countries with specific etiquette and customs relating to banquets and meals. Chinese people approach the idea of a formal dinner as a platform to express the level of interpersonal relationships and represent social status. According to Ma (2015), various foods served during formal dinners have different meanings among the attendees and indicate the nature of their relationship. In Chinese culture, serving rare and expensive food demonstrates the respect the host has for the guests. Rare and costly food is also used to communicate social and economic status (Ma, 2015). The food served in formal dinners includes up to six cold dishes and ten hot dishes served with fruits and soup. The dinners are mainly considered a way of bonding with the business partners and creating a relationship that will make it easier to agree on business terms and work together as business partners. Formal dinners in China are also used for symbolic significance (Ma, 2015).In Chinese culture, foods such as dates are associated with longevity. Consequently, foods such as pears symbolize bad luck. Foods served during dinner can also reestablish and determine the relationship between people. Therefore, foods associated with success and longevity may be served in formal dinners to symbolize the host’s interest in establishing a successful business relationship with the guests.

Cultural Influences that have Determined how People in China act in a Professional Setting

Customs or Traditions to be Aware of

Chinese dinners are dictated by various traditions or customs. Most business dinners are banquets consisting of many Chinese dishes. The guests are expected to wait for the host to start eating before they start. Chinese customs also consider serving others before a person serves themselves during dinner as good manners and a sign of respect. Another custom that guests should observe is the use of chopsticks. Chopsticks are part of Chinese traditions, and some dishes are served with serving chopsticks. It is unacceptable for someone to use their chopstick to take food from shared plates. If there are no serving chopsticks, a person should reserve their chopsticks to take food from shared dishes using the chopstick’s blunt ends. The chopsticks should be used to eat everything a person has served on their plate and cut food bites instead of spearing them. The chopsticks must also be returned to the chopstick rest when a person pauses eating to speak or drink. Another custom is the toasting session which is led by the host. The host makes a toast at the start of the dinner, and if a person is an esteemed guest, they may be required to make a toast at the end of the meal or after the host. It is customary to salute the host and those present at the dinner by raising a glass and wishing them prosperity and good health. A toast also symbolizes that the business venture has been acknowledged.

Expectations of the Format of a Professional Dinner

One of the expectations relating to the format of a professional dinner in China is the seating arrangement. According to Upton-McLaughlin (2019), the seating arrangement in a formal dinner denotes where specific people exist in a hierarchy and defines the level of face or respect that a person holds. Therefore, guests should understand the hierarchy so that they do not confuse the host’s power structure and internal dynamics. Another expectation relating to the format of the professional dinner is the seating position. The seat placed directly opposite the entrance is set aside for the high-level or most important guest or host (Upton-McLaughlin, 2019). The seat on the left of the high-level attendee is reserved for the second-highest-level guest or host, and that on the right is reserved for the third-highest-level guest or host. The seating arrangements must be strictly observed to avoid disrespecting the host because that could impact the relationship between the hosts and guests and limit the success of the business deal.

Cultural Events Expected at the Charity Dinner

Formal business dinners usually take a long time and involve cultural events like drinking contests and karaoke. The dinners include at least ten courses consisting of various delicacies and fresh local produce, including steamed fish and chicken, to ensure that there is something for everyone to choose from (Yen, 2016). The meals begin with appetizers and soups. The dishes in a formal dinner are selected by the host to reflect a balance of taste, fragrance and color, texture contrast, and a specific season. A small bottle of Baijiu is usually placed at the dinner table, and a shot glass is placed in front of everyone for the guests and hosts to toast before and after dinner. The main alcoholic beverages served during Chinese formal dinners include beer which should only be consumed during toasts. The only drinks a person can take alone without toasting are juice, soda, water, and mineral water.

Aspects of a Business Dinner that Reflect Cultural Meaning

Expectations that Originate in Cultural Values

According to Santander (2023), Chinese culture is mainly influenced by Confucianism, which emphasizes creating relationships based on courtesy, modesty, loyalty, and solidarity. These values set expectations that people should meet in formal dinners in China. One of the expectations is waiting for others before starting to eat. Eating before others begin eating is unacceptable because it demonstrates impatience and disrespect. Another expectation is joining a toast. Dinner attendees are required to join a toast as a gesture of politeness. Another expectation is eating slowly. Finishing a meal too quickly creates an impression that a person is still hungry and may be considered disrespectful to the host.

Changes in Traditional Professional Etiquette in China in Reaction to New Global Influences

Similarities and Differences Between Chinese and Western Culture

Chinese traditional professional etiquette has changed in reaction to new global influences, especially from Western countries. What stands out is their emphasis on saving face and maintaining a strict hierarchy in society. Face in Chinese culture is associated with a deep sense of pride, dignity, and honor. Face plays a vital role in business negotiations. Causing a person to lose face, even unintentionally, could negatively impact how business partners relate. Hierarchy and rank are also more important in China than in most Western societies because placing someone in a lower rank than they are could make them lose face. For example, reserving a seat for a high-ranking guest inappropriately during formal dinners could damage their dignity and honour. Another thing that stands out is eating etiquette. For example, in Western societies, finishing all the food served on a plate is not considered rude or unacceptable. However, in Chinese culture, an empty plate indicates that a person is unsatisfied and the host did not prepare enough food. However, there are some similarities between Chinese and Western professional dinner etiquette. For example, the two cultures acknowledge that the host should make a toast and welcome the guests to the dinner. Another similarity is setting sitting arrangements based on rank to maintain honor. Western and Chinese societies also have special foods to celebrate specific occasions. For example, Americans eat Turkey during Thanksgiving, and the Chinese eat rice dumplings for the Spring Festival and other special social events. However, during professional dinners, Western societies and the Chinese serve foods that accommodate the host’s and guests’ traditions or customs.

Potential Problems the Guests May Encounter at the Dinner

Subjects of Conversation, Taboo Subjects are Taboo and the Expected Way that Conversations Should Proceed

Small talk is encouraged during dinner to create rapport and make everyone comfortable. The acceptable topics include a person’s experience traveling in China, the weather, food, and culture. It is important to focus on topics that create a positive impression of Chinese culture and demonstrate appreciation for the culture. The main topics considered taboo are political-related topics, especially those relating to Tibet and Taiwan cultures. It is also taboo to discuss human rights during dinner. It is also considered inappropriate to ask people personal questions such as their age. Although there is no expected way that conversations should proceed, it is important to allow the host to initiate the conversation to determine what they consider appropriate.

What Guests Should Avoid Doing So as not to Offend

The guests’ conduct during the dinner will significantly impact how the host views the company and whether they will be interested in donating the money needed to support the company’s projects. Therefore, the guests must understand what they should avoid during the dinner to avoid offending the host. One of the things that the guests should avoid is clicking their chopsticks on the plate or bowl. Clicking the chopsticks on the plate or bowl is considered bad luck and rude. The second thing the guests should not do is use their chopsticks to pick food from communal dishes because it is considered unhygienic. The third thing that the guests should not do is bring gifts to the dinner because that would be viewed as bribery which is illegal in China. Another thing that the guests should not do is discuss business during meals because that time is meant for bonding and learning about each other.

References

Ma, G. (2015). Food, eating behavior, and culture in Chinese society. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 2(4), 195–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jef.2015.11.004

Santander. (2023). China: Business practices. Business practices in China – Santandertrade.com. https://santandertrade.com/en/portal/establish-overseas/china/business-practices

Upton-McLaughlin, S. (2019, March 13). Chinese dining etiquette. The China Culture Corner. https://chinaculturecorner.com/2013/08/01/dining-etiquette-in-china/

Yen, W. (2016). Etiquette with Chinese characteristics. From the Great Wall to Wall Street, 165–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33008-2_9

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HUM-20030-XF108 Culture and Context 23DA06
Scenario
You work for CON-voke, an organization that helps develop and run conventions, conferences, and business meetings on a variety of topics. You will help organize a charity dinner and cultural exhibition to raise money for an international nonprofit. The fundraiser will feature the viewing of an artwork or cultural heritage item, with the proceeds going to charity. The dinner will focus on the country of the curated item, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about the global culture and the influences that shaped its creation. Your supervisor has asked you to help plan the event, write an overview for the dinner, and create some brief notes on the piece to be auctioned.

Your supervisor would like the dinner to be a culturally relevant and accessible event. You should treat it as a social artifact; it should be a business dinner that is reflective of cultural expectations for the curated item’s country of origin, and it should offer attendees the opportunity to learn more about the culture and its historical influences.

Directions
Part 1: Select a Country
First, you should select a location for your dinner. Use the World Business Cultures: A Handbook textbook and other resources located in the Supporting Materials section as a starting point for researching a culture. However, you will need to do more research on the culture as you develop your event. Use the Shapiro Library to find more information about the culture’s conceptions of what to expect at a business dinner, its social customs, and any business etiquette particular to the culture.
Waitstaff can serve guests food and drinks, but this may not be appropriate for all types of events.
Part 2: Select an Artist and Artwork
Now that you have found a host country, you will need to select an artwork to feature in the cultural exhibition. You may also choose to use a relevant cultural artifact or product. Use the ARTstor and Grove Art Online databases to find an appropriate item. You can filter your choices by country and learn more about the piece you’ve chosen. ARTstor has a large selection of cultural artifacts, along with descriptions and histories. Grove Art Online provides detailed biographies of artists, and articles on art movements and styles from various countries. Reach out to a librarian in the Shapiro Library if you need assistance navigating the databases.