A person's culture is like an iceberg, with only about 10% visible. Deep below the "water line" are a culture's core values. These are primarily learned ideas of what is good, right, desirable, and acceptable, as well as what is bad, wrong, undesirable, and unacceptable. In many cases, different cultural groups share the similar core values (such as "honesty", or "respect", or "family"), but these are often interpreted differently in different situations and incorporated in unique ways into specific attitudes we apply in daily situations.
Ultimately, these internal forces become visible to the
casual observer in the form of observable behaviors, such as the words we use, the way we act, the laws we enact, and the ways we communicate with each other.core values of a culture do not change quickly or easily. They are passed on from generation to generation by numerous institutions which surround us.
In my video tutorial "Doing Business in the Gulf Countries"I explore the remianing 90% equipping export professionals with the skills to relate, communicate and negotiate with Arab businessmen.
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