+1 862 207 3288 MSc 009 – Globalisation
Coursework
Case Studies “Alstom: Prty Invitations in Saudi Arabia and in China”
1. If you were invited to a party in Saudi Arabia, how would you behave? What would you tell your European colleague who is a vegetarian?
2. Do you think it is appropriate, or necessary, to join the drinking when being invited to a party in China (or Russia)?
3. How would you treat you Saudi Arabian or Chinese colleagues when your company has an official party?
Different expats are likely to give quite different advise on this sort of issues. It is important, however, that students reflect and explain there suggested actions.
This is how I personally would handle these situations:
1. I would try to adapt as much as feasible. In fact, in my view, the case describes a quiet appropriate behaviour, considering the limited local knowledge of the
person telling the story.
2. This is a difficult one. I myself have managed to avoid excessive drinking even though I have been in Greater China many times on business. But perhaps I have
just been lucky because my academic friends drink less than business persons. Advice for women: if you want to stay out, tell everyone that you don’t drink at all –
many Asian women do that. For men it is rarely seen as credible.
3. My two points of advice would be: a) party in your normal way, but explain them what you are doing, b) avoid bringing them into situation where they feel
uncomfortable – especially anything related to alcohol (Muslims usually don’t drink at all, East Asian drink typically less than Europeans). Actually sharing a meal
with any Asian friends I often drink less alcohol with the meal than when I eat with European friends – it just happens that way, no conscious adaptation.
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