Comparison between Western and Middle Eastern Cultures Research on Why American Expatriates Struggle in the Middle East
Introduction Organisations in general are aiming at reaching as much markets as possible, which means interacting with different cultures and environments. Interacting with individuals with different backgrounds could result in miscommunication. The reason is that people from different cultures perceiving almost everything differently. Consequently, organisations are increasingly interested in people that have experienced and adjusted to different cultures as they are flexible in cultural adjustment. This flexibility helps an organisation in saving money by sending an employee who is capable of carrying over the assignment they were sent on successfully without damaging business relationships overseas. Therefore, this essay will discuss expatriates and their roles, what are crosscultural issues, the difference between high and low context cultures, and a comparison of American culture and Saudi Arabian culture. This comparison could help in understanding why American expatriates, who are in heavy demand in Saudi Arabia, struggle when trying to adjust to the Saudi Arabian culture.