TimeZone Insights

Many people preparing for international business begin by looking for information about the country they are about to work with. They search for guides on business etiquette, meeting protocols or negotiation styles, hoping to avoid making cultural mistakes. There is nothing wrong with that approach. Understanding the business environment in another country can provide valuable context and help people feel more confident before an important meeting. However, there is a danger

If you've worked with South Korean companies, the situation may sound familiar. The meeting goes well. Questions are answered, ideas are discussed openly, and there is every indication that the proposal has been received positively. Nobody raises any major objections, everyone thanks each other for their time, and you leave believing a decision is only days away. Then... nothing. A follow-up email receives a polite acknowledgement but no commitment. Another week passes before

When something goes wrong in international business, it's often tempting to look for a cultural explanation. A negotiation slows unexpectedly, a supplier misses another deadline or a customer stops responding, and before long someone suggests that it's simply "the way business is done" in that country. Sometimes they're right. However, after more than thirty years working internationally, I've found that many of the challenges organisations face have very little to do with na