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                  negotiations can be observed in the following aspects:
                         Definition of Negotiation
                         Different  cultures  have  defined  “negotiation”  differently.  For
                  example,  Americans  look  at  negotiation  as  a  competitive  process

                  between  proposals  and  counterproposals,  whereas  the  Japanese  people
                  view it as an opportunity for sharing information.
                         Selection of Negotiators

                         The  standard  for  selecting  negotiators  may  include  credential,
                  relationship,  gender,  age,  experience,  and  social  status.  Different
                  cultures place different levels of weight on these criteria. Thus, different
                  expectations exist for negotiators who participate in different kinds of

                  negotiations.
                               Rituals of Negotiation
                         Cultural  differences  among  negotiators  lead  to  significantly

                  different  rituals.  For  example,  Americans  have  a  reputation  for  not
                  placing  a  strong  emphasis  on  an  opponent’s  gender  or  job  title.
                  Europeans,  on  the  other  hand,  are  more  formal  in  this  matter.  A

                  mismatching  of  the  titles  of  two  negotiators  is  viewed  as  a  sign  of
                  disrespect.  Moreover,  in  Southeast  Asian  nations  such  as  China  or
                  Japan,  business  cards  are  formally  used  when  two  parties  introduce

                  themselves  to  each  other.  A  negotiator  who  forgets  to  bring  his/her
                  business cards or writes on the other person’s business card is viewed as
                  being deliberately ignoring the other person.
                         Communication

                         Whether  it  is  verbal  or  non-verbal  expression,  cultures  influence
                  communicative behaviors. In order to avoid offending the opponent in
                  an international negotiation, a negotiator should be especially aware of

                  the opponent’s unique communicative behaviors or habits.
                         Time
                         The  meaning  of  time  varies  with  cultures.  Countries  that  value
                  traditions, especially those located in a warmer climate, tend to have a

                  slower pace of life. People in these countries do not focus on time, and
                  even if they do, it would only be for a short period of time. Americans
                  are often perceived as slaves to time since they value time and perceive

                  it as an intangible asset. People in Asia and Latin America, however, do
                  not share the same attitude. They believe the focus of a negotiation is the
                  negotiation  itself,  regardless  of  how  much  time  it  requires.  Graham

                  (1981) believes that because of cultural factors, the perception of time
                  can  be  divided  into  three  categories:  linear-separable  time,  circular-
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