cross cultural insights brazil

7/29/2019 Cross Cultural Insights Brazil

1/15

Training Session:

How to survive in Brazil?


2/15

Agenda

Introduction

History

Social inequality

Cultural values

Leadership Motivation

Organizational structure

Teamwork

Communication styles Insights

Jeitinhobrasileiro

Useful Phrases


3/15

Welcome / Bem-vindo

What comes up to mind when

thinking of Brazil?


4/15

Brief History

1500 Declared a Portuguese colony.

1550 African slaves were shipped to Brazil to work for sugarplantations.

1822 Prince Peter, son of Portuguese King declares independence fromPortugal and crowns himself Peter I, Emperor of Brazil.

1888 Slavery abolished.

1889Monarchy overthrown, federal republic established.

1932 Brazilian women won the right to vote.

1942 Joins Allies in World War II.

2002 Last FIFA World Cup won by Brazil, making it the only team with 5titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

2003 Current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was establishedpresident. Re-elected in 2007.


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Ethnicity


6/15

Social Inequality

Brazil is the country with one of the highest

social inequality

Top 10% Population = 50% of national income

Around 34% live below the poverty line

Gini Coefficient = 56.7putting Brazil on the

10th position of the country with the highestincome inequality.


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Most important cultural values

Tolerance and Respect towards different

cultures and races.

Conciliation and Cordiality.

Family traditions.

Religion (73.6% Catholic*).

*Source: Rodriguez, C. (2007) Religions afro-brsiliennes. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization


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Leadership

More responsive to charismatic leaders.

It is a trait of charmismatic leaders to motivate

and be in contact with employees.

Leaders: Strong personalities, rigid values,

paternalistic patterns.

People feel the need to identify themselveswith leaders.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva


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Motivation

Financial compensation

Need for recognition

Employees tend to be evaluated on theoutcomes


10/15

Organizational Structure

Strict Hierarchy and strict line of Information

Flows

Closed systems

Job-Oriented Culture

Parochial: Employees would identify

themselves with the organization for which

they work for.


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Team Work

Tend to take their time to get to know their

co-workers.

Creating relationship bonds is key for an

effective outcome.

Cooperative rather than competitive.


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Communication Style

Oral communication is more effective.

Can be considered a touchy culture by

Westerns.

Gestures.

Smiles and kind responses tend to facilitate

communication.


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Insights

Common to schedule a business meeting over

a meal.

Eye contact, and a shake of hands is a normal

greeting procedure.

Important early in a negotiation: break the ice

establish a mutual interest in something

other than business (Ex. Football, samba).

A friendly approach is crucial.


14/15

Jeitinho Brasileiro

Little Brazilian Way

BEWARE: There is no way to rely on the

jeitinho, it should be looked at as a last

resort.


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Some Useful Phrases

Oi Hello

Tchau Bye

Sim Yes No No

Por favor Please

Obrigado Thank You Com licena Excuse me

cross cultural insights brazil

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