Argentinian Business Tips

Tip 1
Although beset by numerous economic, political and social difficulties, Argentina remains a country which holds vast potential for the careful, well-prepared business investor.

Tip 2
Historical factors have made Argentines unsure of the long-term and are, therefore, often happiest when focussing on shorter-term issues.

Tip 3
People in the country are very status conscious and this feeds through into their attitudes to business and corporate structures.

Tip 4
Do not assume that a published organisation chart necessarily reflects the actual structure of the organisation. Complex webs of relationships can often distort things and power does not necessarily lie in the hands of the most obvious person.

Tip 5
Make sure you are dealing with the real decision-maker and not just somebody you assume ought to be the decision-maker.

Tip 6
Managers are expected to manage and decisiveness and clear instructions are expected and respected.

Tip 7
Managers and subordinates will develop very close personal bonds. The manager is expected to take a deep interest in the interests and well-being of subordinates.

Tip 8
Greater emphasis is placed upon the spoken than the written word. Don’t rely solely on email to convey a message — follow up with a phone call or a meeting.

Tip 9
It is difficult to arrange meetings too far in advance. If you do arrange meetings well in advance, don’t be surprised if they are postponed nearer to the date. (Another example of Argentine short-termism.)

Tip 10
Expect meetings to commence with quite a lot of small-talk. View this as an important element of the meeting — don’t be impatient and try to rush it.

Tip 11
It is unlikely that people will have done huge amounts of pre-meeting preparation. Flexibility of thought and action are highly prized.

Tip 12
Punctuality is somewhat better than in some other South American countries but you cannot assume that a meeting will start and finish on time.

Tip 13
English language levels are generally good and many people can speak either Italian or German (as well, of course, as Spanish.)

Tip 14
Open, free debate is viewed positively and you are expected to express your opinions strongly. However, this should never be done if it is likely to lead to a direct confrontation. Remember how vital the relationship is and never do anything to jeopardise it.

Tip 15
Expect meetings to be noisy, lively events with several people speaking at once, frequent interruptions and extensive use of gesture and exaggerated body language.

Tip 16
Do not be put off by people standing in close proximity to you or by strong levels of eye contact — this is normal in Argentina and should not be viewed as threatening or invasive.

Tip 17
It is common for people to refer to each other through the use of surnames rather than first names. This is a sign of respect rather than aloofness.

Tip 18
Female business visitors can expect to be treated with politeness and respect — although they are unlikely to meet other senior women within their Argentine counterpart.

Tip 19
Dress smartly and soberly as you will be judged partly on your appearance.

Tip 20
Avoid discussing issues such as past political problems, South American levels of poverty or the Falklands/Malvinas.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture.  Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Australia only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Argentina only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.