Brazil Culture & Business Etiquette

Tamara Ninkovic, Anda Telman, Brendan Jones

Brazil

Located in South America Current population is over 200 million

people Official language is Portuguese Latin American’s largest economy (7%

GDP growth rate)

Basic Cultural Values

Hierarchical:Strict organizational hierarchy and chain of commandDecisions made at the most senior levelsPower and authority is not diffused Inequalities are accepted

Relationship-orientedSocial and family oriented

Basic Cultural Values

Uncertainty AvoidanceNeed for rules and structureAvoid uncertainty and risk

Ways of Thinking

Long-term OrientationGoals, plans, and decisions

Time OrientationFlexible

Acceptable and Unacceptable

Acceptable Unacceptable• Formal attire• Give the Thumbs Up• Use Senor and Senora• Physical contact• Close proximity• Be introduced• Talk about:

• Family and children• Weather • Travel • Soccer

• Give the O.K. sign• Using pushy or aggressive

selling techniques• Initiate confrontation• Don’t talk about:

• Argentina• Politics• Religion• Poverty• Rainforest• Brazil’s class system

Inconvenient Business Time

Brazilian CarnivalMonth of February

Christmas New Years July Summer Holiday

Entertaining and Gifts

EntertainingDining out (lunch and dinner)Drinking alcohol is acceptable

GiftingNot necessary during first

meetingAvoid black & purplePersonal gifts

Non-Task Sounding

Long courting process Informal meetings Proper business etiquette Intermediaries help bridge the gap

Information Exchange

Communicate directly with top executives

Limited information given

Explanations are given first than negotiations

Means of Persuasion

Aggressive and often impatient Openly emotional and

passionate Give reasonable feedback

about offer

Terms of Agreement

In-depth understanding about person and contract Don’t attempt to ‘rush-in’ or push signing Presence of a local legal expert

During the signingDuring gift exchange

The End

References

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