Managing Cross-Cultural Behavior in International Business: Walmart

This literature review investigates the challenges of managing cross-cultural behavior in international business, using Walmart Australia as a case study. It identifies the challenges of managing cross-cultural behavior, including cultural differences, linguistic barriers, ethnocentrism, and cultural shock. It also evaluates factors responsible for the success of international businesses, such as political and economic factors, technological infrastructure, and demographic considerations. The review synthesizes various authors' perspectives on these challenges and factors, highlighting the importance of cultural adaptation and knowledge of local circumstances for international business success. It also touches upon the impact of workforce diversity on international business strategies and performance.

Business Research
The challenges of managing cross
cultural behaviour in international
business. A case study of Walmart
Australia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction............................................................................................................... 2
Project Objective........................................................................................................ 2
Scope of the Research.................................................................................................. 3
Literature Review........................................................................................................ 3
RO1: To identify challenges of managing cross cultural behavior in International business..........3
RO2: To evaluate the factors which are responsible for the success of International Business.......7
RO3: To provide recommendations which can assist the business in meeting the challenges of the
global organizations................................................................................................ 10
Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 12
References.............................................................................................................. 14

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INTRODUCTION
Today’s business environment is increasingly competitive which needs communication in
order to be extremely successful and competitive. For the business corporations which
perform internationally, communication is one such element which brings competitive
advantage and helps in bridging the gap between different countries and cultures. The main
purpose of this research is to focus on the challenges of managing cross-cultural in
International Business (Luthans and Doh, 2018).
The study is done on Walmart which is the biggest retail chain of America and worldwide.
The company provides goods at lower prices and brings best shopping experience to its
customers. The company operates in many countries like UK, Australia, India, China and
more but it has to face challenges of cross-cultural behavior. Walmart managed to enter into a
number of international markets as it is successful in managing its cross-cultural factors. The
Literature review is done in order to focus on such factors which make it strong in handling
the cross-cultural issues and challenges.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the study is to throw a light on the challenges which are to be faced by
the businesses which operate internationally. With the advent of globalization, many
businesses have now set their foot in various countries but they also have to go through
various hurdles which need to be crossed in order to become successfully competitive. The
main project objectives are:
 To identify challenges of managing cross-cultural behavior in International business:
A case study of Walmart, Australia
 To evaluate the factors which are responsible for the success of International
Business: A case study of Walmart, Australia

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 To provide recommendations which can assist the business in meeting the challenges
of the global organizations: A case study of Walmart, Australia
SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH
The scope of the research is wide. It is because Globalization has created a need for every
business to operate in various countries and to be competitive in order to achieve competitive
advantage. This enhances the scope of this research. The review of literature will be done in
order to study the challenges which the retail business have to face while going global and
while operating in different countries. Walmart is such a big organization which operates in
many different countries (Thomas and Peterson, 2017). It is very common for them to face
cross-cultural issues as they deal with the people who belong to different cultures, speak
different languages and have a different thought process.
LITERATURE REVIEW
RO1: TO IDENTIFY CHALLENGES OF MANAGING CROSS CULTURAL
BEHAVIOR IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
With the increased expansion of the business across the world and the growing competition,
it has become essential to have a diverse workforce in the organization and to manage it. A
diverse workforce means diverse in terms of culture and traditions. It impacts the overall
strategies and performance of Walmart as well. It is very important for a business to manage
its cultural diversity so that its advantage can be made and competitive edge can be gained.
There are various authors which have different say in this context (Binder, 2016).
According to Tung (2016), the advances in information and technology have increased the
ease of companies in doing global business because of which most of the countries are
operating in more than one country. This gave rise to the culture of multinational companies

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where the employees from various regions of the world work together in order to achieve
common objective of Walmart. The management of resources at global level helps the
company in facing tough situations but it is not easy. The human resources work together
which belongs to different nations and regions which brings discrepancies in their culture,
understanding, traditions, and nature of work and processes of work. The author added that
cross-cultural management has great impact on the international business operations. It brings
many challenges for the business. Culture and behavior of employees creates complexity in in
international business. If a business has cross-cultural proficiency, it will be able to handle its
foreign counterparts well. For e.g. proficiency of cross-cultural behavior helps Walmart in
developing products and services as per the needs and demands of its foreign business
countries. It also helps them in communicating with them and ultimately helps in promoting
its deliverables effectively. The article says a lot about the advantages of cultural adaptations
and barriers of the same. It also threw a light on the measures which helps in overcoming the
barriers of the cultural adaptations. In Comparison to this, Tutar, Altinoz and Cakiroglu
(2014) added that the multinational organizations are composed of the workforce, which is
different in terms of geography, religion, languages and political backgrounds.
According to Cavusgil et al. (2014), linguistic differences could impact the way of
communication with workforces, business partners, and customers. In Australia, different
foreign language is used in working and advertisement. As a result, Walmart can provide the
training of language to employees and develops the strategy on that language. Business could
also face the same linguistic barriers in the local societies in which the high amount of
population belongs to different nations. In opposed to this, Brewster et al. (2016) evaluated
that culture assesses the behavior, habits, holidays and preferences of the consumer in every
society. Business should focus on all the cultural characteristics of targeted society. For
example, Walmart cannot sell the products that will breach the ethical conduct. The company

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cannot predict a boom in their revenues before blessing elsewhere outside of Australia as it
could affect the whole sales. Cultural differences also create barriers in the local level of
business.
In the view of Stahl and Tung (2015), information and knowledge regarding business
etiquette, habit, and attitude of a foreign nation are significant to compete and co-operate the
business in the international market. These attitudes also assess how Walmart deals with a
diverse situation in the international market such as whether they act defensively or
offensively. The company can also use the data regarding different attitudes of international
business to compete against the international corporations in their domestic marketplace. In
contrast to this, Stone and Deadrick (2015) stated that differences among the technical
advancement and services of markets globally or within Australia could assess fundamentally
opportunity for production, and sales and marketing to deal with the business. For instance,
Walmart cannot deal in advance technology in that market where there is no advancement.
But, it can develop promotion and advertising approach on the internet as web services are
used by the high amount of national population and local society. It could be used as a
primary source of data.
Moran Abramson and Moran (2014) opined that the international operation could be spread
by the organization but it could create challenges for a company as there is the difference
between social system and organizational culture. This new social system could impact on the
responses of all involved individual. When employees of Walmart posted to the new nation
then they could face challenges due to a variety of behavior. They can also fail to identify the
key differences amid their own and other culture. But, if they go through these different
behaviors then they tend to conclude that the effect of difference is inappropriate. They also
assume that the two cultures are more related as compared to their actual culture. On the
other hand, George et al. (2016) described that some of the employees can relatively

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individualistic, which shows that they highly focus on the personal welfare and needs. At the
extreme, individualism recommends that their actions should be instructed by the motto and
looks out for themselves rather than concern for others.
According to Tjosvold (2017), Ethnocentrism is a key challenge to uncomplicated adaption to
another culture. It exists when an individual is prone to realize that their homeland
circumstances are the significant. This predisposition is also called ethnocentrism and self-
reference criterion. Although, this type of thinking is natural but it hinders the knowledge of
human behavior in other culture and increases productivity from domestic workforces. For
integrated the local and imported social system, employees of Walmart should develop the
knowledge of local circumstances. This understanding could be adaptable to integrate the
societies of interest of two or more culture. In contrast to this, Tian (2016) evaluated that
company should understand the cultural distance between two nation when employees move
to another nation in order to expect the adaptation extent. There is the amount of diversity
amid two community systems but it may range from minimal to substantial. It is also stated
that the amount of culture distance in Walmart can affect the responses of all individual to
business but there is no matter how much extent of culture distance. Workforces tend to be
fairly ethnocentrism and observe the circumstances in a new nation as per the standard of
their homeland. These barriers will be overcome if the culture distance is high.
According to Saeed et al. (2014), when workforces enter into another country then they tend
to suffer the cultural shock, which is puzzlement and uncertainty caused by encountering
diverse culture. In Walmart, employees may not understand how to act as they may fear
losing face and self-confidence. They may also become emotionally upset. Some people
isolate themselves, whereas certain people make a decision to return home on the upcoming
airplane. This situation could arise when an employee’s move from one advanced country to
another. There are certain causes of cultural shock such as language, different management

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philosophies, attitude with regards to productivity and work, separation from colleagues and
friends, unique currency system, alternative dress, language, food, availability of goods and
driving patterns.
RO2: TO EVALUATE THE FACTORS WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
SUCCESS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
In support of this, Dunning (2014) stated that political factor may concern with government
policies, regional economic blocks, and laws and administrative orientation of different
nations. The political factor considers the regulating international trade with regards to
quotas, technical standards, and tariffs. For instance, the Australian government has
regulation to charge less tax on international trade. Political stability is also a significant
concept for an international business scenario in Australia as it could have a favorable impact
on the Walmart Business. But, at the same time, the political unrest and military coups could
oblige the multinational company to close or delay the operations. On the other hand, French
(2015) stated that economic growth rate could also impact on the level of demand for goods
and services in international markets. But, the economic growth rate may be high in the
certain nations and low in other nations. For instance, the inflation rate is low in Australia as
it could be effective for Walmart to deal in the international market.
In the view of De Mooij (2015), the existence of technological infrastructure and technical
capabilities assess the prosperity of international business in the host nation. There are certain
factors such as technical training and broadband connectivity have become significant
ingredients of successful operation in the modern business phenomenon. In addition, the level
of the technological building in a given nation assesses the scope of technical knowledge
amid its population whereas, it could be easier for Walmart to develop and maintain technical
operation in high-technology nation i.e. Australia. On the contrary, Firth et al. (2014)
evaluated that demographic factor like culture and religion could affect the quality, types,

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demand level and functional features of the product in the international markets. Culture
integrates different meaning to time, name, objects, attitude and color. For instance, Walmart
may suffer the low sales when it will introduce the unhealthy products in Australia as there
are a large number of people, who emphasizes on a healthy lifestyle. Hence, Walmart may
have the capabilities to discuss and understand the different cultural cues and structure that
are features of international business scenario.
Barkema et al. (2015) stated that company faces complexities to deal with the competition
despite its uniqueness. When a company starts the business, then it fights against more
experienced and developed businesses in the same industry. After developing the business, it
may face the newer firms, which try to decline their customers. Competition can break and
make the business hence Walmart should identify the brick and mortar bookstores burned and
crashed competing with other companies. In opposed to this, Brewster et al. (2016), lack of
money could assess whether the company dies or survive in the Australian economy. When
cash resources are too limited, then it could influence the number of recruited people, quality
equipment, and the amount of advertising that company can buy. If Walamrt has adequate
cash then it could have more flexibility to expand their business and endure economic
downturn.
According to Alvarado Herrera et al. (2011), changes in government policies could have a
large impact on their business. The retail industry is the standard example for this as Walmart
have been required to produce quality products and labeling on their products and
government gives the right to the advertisement of quality product on television and social
media. Therefore, the percentage of Australian who uses unhealthy products has declined by
more than half and it has also the corresponding impact on the revenue of industry. On the
other hand, Stokes et al. (2016) evaluated that internal culture includes the attitudes, values,
and priorities that employees have in an organization. A cutthroat culture in which every

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workforce competes with other market players may create a distinct atmosphere from a
corporation that focuses on teamwork and collaboration. It is also analyzed that Walmart
culture flows from the top down. Employees of the company will infer the value of the
company but, it is relied on hired, fired and promoted type of people. Hence, Walmart should
demonstrate their value to staff to integrate with the organizational culture.
According to McFarlin and Sweeney (2014), customers and suppliers are significant people
for dealing the business. Further, suppliers have large impact on the expenses of Walmart.
The power of specified suppliers relied on shortage such as if the business cannot buy the raw
material from anywhere else then it could make limited negotiating the room. The powers of
customers rely on competition level, product quality, and promotion against competitors. In
contrast to this, Kolk (2016) stated that a well-run business may not be able to survive in case
of bad economy. When customers lose their employment and take jobs that barely aids them
then, they will spend fewer amounts on recreation, luxury goods, sports and new cars. Along
with this, high-interest rates on credit card could discourage the customers for spending.
Although, Walmart cannot control the business, but understanding could aid the company to
decline the threats and grab the opportunities.
Saeed et al. (2014) stated that employees are a vital component of the internal environment of
the company. Hence, employees of Walmart should have a good understanding at their jobs
and assesses whether they writing the code or selling the goods and services to strangers. In
addition, managers should have a good understanding to handle the lower level employees
and manage the other part of internal circumstances. If everyone is talented and competent
then conflicts and internal politics could ruin a good company. In opposed to this, McFarlin
and Sweeney (2014) described that communication can be problematic for an organization
where certain workforces speak in English as a second language. These problems could be
raised due to the difference in the language of people in Walmart. For declining the confusion

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and misunderstanding, English speaking employees of Walmart should not use slang and
jargon words in the emails and meetings. It is stated that ‘OK’ word could be appropriate to
speak the international language with their colleagues over the lunch hour. But, if the same
language is used in meeting with an individual who does not speak a foreign language then it
can make those employees feel barred. According to the general rule, people should be
encouraged to implement the language of their choice during the lunch hours and breaks, but
they are restricted to use common language at the workplace during the formal discussion.
RO3: TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH CAN ASSIST THE
BUSINESS IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE GLOBAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Employees and manager in Walmart gradually comprehend the diversity and dimension.
Hence, it is the accountabilities of employees and manager to adopt the approaches to
maintain the diversity at bay. There are certain strategies, which enables an organization to
tackle the hurdles of cross-culture diversity. According to Barkema et al. (2015), the initial
strategy is admitting and acknowledging the existence of diversity amid cultures. It will
mainly entail the diversity in interpretations, perceptions, and assessment of social
circumstances and people who develop them and act within the team. These differences
should be identified by Walmart to eliminate the cultural diversity in the international
business. Along with this, recognition of culture by an organization is the first circumstance
of developing the mutual understanding and good cooperation. On the other side, De Mooij
(2015) stated that company should respect the foreign culture to accept the differences of
culture without any judgment. There is no evidence that some culture is perfect as compared
to another culture. Walmart should demonstrate the finest services for the members due to
diverse cultures. As a result, it would be beneficial to organize life circumstances in the
situation they have been alive for a long time.

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Tian (2016) recommended the procedure to address the common solution, mutual
comprehension, and generalization of the complex and demanding procedure of behaving
diverse cultural environment. It aids to keep to liaison with the foreign culture. Furthermore,
Walmart should give their cultural background on social media to deals in international
business. It could be also recommended that Walmart should use their understanding about
own culture in order to comprehend the culture of partner as it could be quite easy to deals in
international level. The key perspective is that Walmart should have good knowledge of
partners and their cultural environment to avoid the diversity. On the contrary, George et al.
(2016) stated that company should ignore the cultural differences. Under this strategy, a
manager ignores the differences of culture at the workplace. It could be irrelevant when a
manager and employees have good comprehension about cultures and practices of each other
as earlier, they would learn to respect the culture of others. Under this strategy, the managers
and workforces of Walmart feel that ‘our way is the only way’ in provincial sort of
organizations. The elimination of diversity entails the effective management of cultural
difference and prohibited the chances of adverse impacts and increases the favorable impact
of diversity.
According to Stone and Deadrick (2015), minimize differences is the strategy to eliminate the
cultural diversity in international business. Under this strategy, the managers feel differences
of culture but only as a source of problems. This approach is highly adopted by ethnocentric
organizations. In Walmart, managers try to decline the issues of diversity by declining the
cultural diversity. They also do not think regarding benefits of diversity. They also try to
choose culturally homogenous employees and makes effort to socialize all workforces into
behavior structure of dominant culture. In opposed to this, Stahl and Tung (2015) described
that managing differences are adopted by synergistic companies. Moreover, Walmart
identifies the impact of cultural diversity, which leads to both disadvantages and advantages.