While in Rome, Do as the Romans Do: Tips on Working in India

chillibreeze writer — Sowmya Natarajan

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Here are some cultural and culinary Tips for Expats Moving to South India. For more tips, check out our India survival kit loaded with cultural tips for expats and visitors to India.

India has become a haven for the booming software industry. Metros like Bangalore and Pune are top-notch destinations for the IT enthusiasts all over the world, and are fast becoming trend setters for other metros.

However, while global trade has blurred the geographical boundaries, it has not influenced the cultural values that each nation brings with it. In fact, for foreign establishments seeking to conduct business in India , one secret to success lies in a well planned cultural integration of both countries.

The challenge is to meet global standards and be competitive while at the same time retain the rich cultural heritage of the region. The work culture should incorporate the Indian way of life while seeking to achieve the organizational objectives.



>> Read more on the Cross-Cultural Info Package

For example, the Western lifestyle is informal, life in India borders on conservatism and rigidity. There is a strict observance of the hierarchical set up in India , unlike the West where roles are not strictly compartmentalized. There is a freedom to question in the West and argue policies which is a rare sight in the Indian culture. Right from the classroom, Indian students are not encouraged to question policies, or speak up on issues that interest them. While this need not translate into the work culture, nevertheless, reluctance on the employee's part to come up with bold ventures is common. It thus becomes very important to encourage, and push the workers to achieve company goals.

Time management in India is a challenge! Given the population strength, and the poor infrastructure – power, water and road conditions are very bad; provisions should be made in the event of delays and inability to meet deadlines. Moreover, in India , there are numerous holidays owing to festivals throughout the year. For a country strongly immersed in the preservation of culture and tradition, it comes as no surprise that such occasions are expected to be observed. Hence for an Indian company to remain competitive in the global market, clear-cut policy with regard to such holidays should be planned.

The family structure in India is a close knit unit. Decisions are made only after prior consultation with the family members. Life in the United States and Canada is independent and decisions are made independent of such family influences. In India making important decisions without talking to the family is considered offensive and implies a lack of respect. This great Indian value may have implications in the workplace. The West prides itself on its independence and ‘raising yourself from your bootstraps’. This solid independence has helped build an entrepreneurial attitude not found in India but at the same time has damaged the Western society to the point where children display little respect their parents. So with the good comes the bad.

While good friendships are encouraged, because of the stronghold of society in India there tends to be certain confusion with regard to the behavioral code between men and women. Physical contact is restricted to hand shakes, and in some cases, married women prefer to keep it to a simple greeting marked by the folding of hands. While laying out the dress code, keep in mind the weather conditions as well. Overall the Indian work place is very conservative compared to the West.

Now you have a just a taste of the cultural differences that influence the work culture in India . There are so many others involving communication, roles, innovation, processes, motivation, leadership etc. that it really is best to come to India and find out for yourself. For more cultural tips check out our India survival kit.

India survival kit: A free guide for foreigners and expats

A collection of articles about Indian culture and cultural tips for visitors to India written by an American expat.

I) Cultural tips for newcomers to India

II) Doing business in India

III) An American's diary

IV) Street English in India: Indian English and the Indian way of communication

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.

—About our writer:

Sowmya has recently returned to her native India
after several years in Canada. She says,"I love to travel and meet people. R.K. Narayan and James Herriot are my favourite authors. My passion for writing stems from reading their books."