You are a project manager for Pizza Direct, which is a retail pizza delivery store. Your company is competing with another retail store for the option of opening two new stores in a foreign country.

You have been invited to dinner with the prospective foreign business partners and their spouses upon your arrival. You know that all of the following statements are generally true except for which one?

A.
You should respect the cultural differences you’ll encounter when working with your prospective foreign business partners.

B.
You should build an atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation.

C.
You should spend time building relationships with your prospective foreign business partners before getting down to business.

D.
You should explain your company’s rules, standards, and operating policies at your first meeting with the prospective foreign business partners.

Explanation:
Your first meeting with foreign partners should be spent getting to know them on a personal basis. Many cultures like to spend time building relationships first and then talking business. Since you’ve been invited to dinner upon your arrival and the dinner includes the spouses of your prospective partners, chances are they want to spend some time getting to know you personally first. The discussion of the company’s rules, standards, and operating policies should occur at the second or third meeting.