Jean recently attended a trade show in Las Vegas. She saw a lot of international buyers there and wondered if this might present an opportunity for getting the company back to profitability. She noticed one of her competitors was very busy taking orders, and most of the buyers in that exhibit seemed to have Italian accents. Based on Hofstede’s Cultural dimensions, describe to her how she might prepare for a visit from two Italian company representatives. They will visit her company at different times in the future. How would she expect to treat them and how would she expect to be treated BY them independently? Be sure to discuss each of the cultural dimensions and how it would apply to their conversations and, if business talks move forward, their negotiations. Be sure to discuss each of the Hofstede cultural dimensions. Details of the two visitors are below:
1. Italian male, age 60, company owner of a small family business. 30 years of wholesaling and distributing medical equipment.
2. Italian female, age 32, single, world traveled, 2 years in the business, works for a division of a multi-national company that distributes medical equipment from 40 suppliers in 20 different companies.