The Global Phoenix - Issue 3 August 2017 | Page 28

Successfully Meeting the
Challenges
Data supply is undoubtedly a field in which
global collaboration is essential. Only with
local and global input from team members on
both sides of the equation can the true facts be
obtained, catalogued and analysed and trends
forecast.
Cross-Cultural Considerations
Understanding and adapting to local culture
is essential in order to cultivate sustainable
business relationships with local suppliers:
Key 1 - Adopt local communication style
Key 2 - Observe local etiquette
Key 3 - Know Local Business Culture
Key 4 - Become educated as to what is
Best Practice locally
No foreigner has the right to arrive to
a destination that is new to them and
demand that a local culture adjust to
their way of doing things; local ways
must be respected and this includes
business etiquette. In West Africa for
example it is common practice to
have an extended greeting before
getting around to the business in
hand; enquiring after one’s health
and one’s family is essential. In
the UK this would be considered
inappropriate, as family details are
kept separate from business and are
deemed proprietary information. In
Africa it is not rude to ask one’s age,
whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries
that is simply not done.
Benchmarking
Benchmarking of local suppliers
is essential to obtain an accurate
picture of the local market; getting a
cross section of input can enable the
researcher to sort the wood from the
trees and to ascertain when a local
supplier is not being transparent.
Updating Databanks and
Surveys
An increasing number of global
immigration suppliers regularly
release blog posts or bulletins
to inform clients of the latest
requirements in hotspot areas, and
with the advent of social media,
updates can now be live.
Leading Data Supply Companies
recognise that cost of living and
housing surveys conducted in
hardship destinations must be
updated far more frequently than
those for other countries, at times
even quarterly snapshots of the
housing market are required.
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