If you travel around the world, you would notice that there are different ways in which people react to various business scenarios. I remember my training visit to Vietnam in 2008, where I witnessed people placing more importance on friendliness and resilience. This was not only due to their experiences during wartime, but also their welcoming attitude towards tourists. In contrast, in Arab countries, I found people prioritizing the maintenance of a multicultural working environment, given the millions of expatriates serving in various capacities across different sectors of organizations. Similarly, in the Western world, such as the United Kingdom, greater emphasis is placed on maintaining a disciplined work environment.
These diverse attitudes and lifestyles lead to different styles of management and governance. People often encounter more prevalent corrupt practices in the developing world than in developed countries, resulting in the formulation of distinct strategies and frameworks to ensure the smooth operation of businesses and organizations.
To ensure sustainable business practices worldwide, it is pertinent that those in authority move towards a more homogenized world, where individuals share similar work ethics. This can only be achieved through the establishment of a standardized education system worldwide, supported by organizations like the United Nations. In this way, it would not only ensure good governance globally, but also lead to a sustainable approach to conducting business in a standardized work environment.
Syed Adeel ur Rahman (The author is a seasoned Business Consultant who has previously served in London and Pakistan)