Costa Rica Article

For those of you that are having trouble using the link to the Costa Rica article, here is the information we are referencing on the scavenger hunt.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why should I seek to understand the culture of Costa Rica?
As a global company, Western Union is continuing to leverage efficiencies found in an established infrastructure such as the one in Costa Rica. In order to facilitate the transition of identified tasks, understanding how to interact with business associates from the Costa Rican culture will enrich the experience. By being exposed to the different elements of the Costa Rican culture, you will be able to find points of conversation to establish the relationship you will be formulating in the next few weeks. You will also be exposed to a different culture which should help you to appreciate and understand the diversity and similarity between our two cultures. This is something you will be able to use in this transition experience and hopefully other experiences, as well.

What are some important things for me to remember the first time I meet someone from Costa Rica?
Relationships are very important to Costa Ricans, so connect first with a professional hand-shake and a pleasantry such as “It is my pleasure to meet you.” They will respond with a similar comment.

How will my Costa Rica business associate greet me when we have an established relationship?
Occasionally, if there is an established relationship, the Costa Rican will hug you and place a kiss on your cheek when both greeting and departing. This is called Abrazos (embrace of a good friend) and is a sign of respect and appreciation for the friendship. Invest time in connecting with your associate on a personal level by asking them questions related to their family, country, or culture, etc. You will find that your associate will be interested in your life to include family, friends, education, experience in Western Union, interests, hobbies, etc.

How can I best communicate in e-mail with my Costa Rica associate?
Although they would hesitate to say it to you personally, Costa Ricans are not accustomed to how direct Americans are in their approach. Americans tend to get right to the point in asking for something; i.e., “Please e-mail me the month-end report by end of business on Tuesday March 25, 2008.” It is better to begin and end with pleasantries such as “I hope you are well” and “Wishing you a good day” when corresponding with your Costa Rican associate. This demonstrates to them that the relationship is important to you.

How can I best communicate in Same Time with my Costa Rica associate?
Same Time is a useful tool particularly when urgent or immediate business needs arise. Establish with your Costa Rica business partner how you both will use Same Time during the training and transition phase. Address such specifics as anticipated turnaround time, expected usage of Same Time as a communication tool, and how to navigate if misunderstandings arise.



What are some traits I need to be aware of when interacting my Costa Rica business associate?
Build time into the interaction process for exchanging pleasantries and experiences; refrain from jumping right into the content. Your associate will need to feel connected on a relationship level, first. You will notice that they will be respectful of your belongings and space if they visit you onsite. Remember that English is their second language, so try to slow your speech down a little and repeat points if you sense confusion.

What if I cannot understand what my Costa Rica business associate is saying?
Politely explain that you didn’t understand their comment and ask if they would repeat it more slowly. You will find that they will be very responsive to this and may even interject humor to diffuse the situation.

Is Costa Rica part of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
No, that agreement is between the United States, Canada and Mexico. In December of 2003 the U.S. negotiated a similar trade pact with the Central American nations and it is tentatively known as CAFTA. The Central America nations include Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras. Costa Rica opted out of the agreement, but the government actively promotes trade and investment. Costa Rica is the only Central American country that allows foreigners to own businesses without taking a Costa Rican citizen as a business partner.

How is the date written in Costa Rica?
The date is written first, then the month, then the year. Example: May 13, 2008 is written as 13/05/2008.

Is Costa Rica on the same time zone as the United States?
From fall to spring, Costa Rica is one hour ahead or on Central Time. From spring to fall, we are both on the same time or Mountain Time.

What are the office hours in Costa Rica?
The office follows traditional hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but there are areas that have different hours depending on the business they support. In addition, several call center functions reside in Costa Rica and those operations are 24/7.

What if my Costa Rica associate brings me a gift such as coffee or chocolate, is it proper for me to accept a gift? Am I expected to give a gift in return?
Page 29 in the Code of Conduct for Western Union states the following:
“Providing and receiving gifts…is not prohibited at Western Union, but they must be moderate and reasonable in all instances.” If there are questions, please see your manager or Human Resources generalist. A gift from a Costa Rican is an extension of hospitality and goodwill and does not require reciprocation.

What Are You Thinking?

'Communication breakdown'...funny video material, good Led Zepplin song, or common problem for businesses today?
As companies expand into the global market, a need arises for communication training that speaks to cultural considerations, respect, and understanding. Whether you are going to meet someone from another country professionally, in person or in cyberspace, there are certain considerations. Companies need to prepare employees and managers for cross cultural interactions before they happen because, as you may already know, first impressions are extremely important. And many problems that arise, can be prevented. You do not want to be asked by your boss, (read with shocked and appalled tone) "What were you thinking!"

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting Juliann, Sarah, Nida and Lesley's blog. We are using this online venue as a way to document, host and publish resources for our team project for Mgmt 6720. We will use this site to share information, ask questions and discuss our course on Cultural Etiquette. You are welcome to explore all aspects of this site and ask any questions necessary as you prepare to attend the Cultural Etiquette course scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at approximately 8pm in North classroom 1207. Be sure to check out the cool links to other important articles and sites accessible from this page.

Happy learning!