 |
Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
INDONESIA
Business Tips
|
Business
Tips
Business
Hours
Business
hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional
hours Saturday mornings; Saturday hours generally end by 1:00 p.m.
Some businesses have a partial workday on Fridays; Muslim employees will
take at least one hour off on Friday to pray. Typically lunchtime
is from 12:00 noon or 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; lunch is often the largest
meal of the day.
Banking
hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.;
Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Most government
office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule,
with a half day on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m.
Shop hours
vary. Most shops are open five or six days a week from 9:00 a.m.to
1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
September
through June is the best time to visit. July and August should be
avoided because of school, summer and national holidays that fall during
these months.
The holidays
in Indonesia represent an attempt to accommodate the celebrations of Islam,
Hinduism, and Christianity. Observant Muslims fast from dawn to sundown
during the month of Ramadan; it is not polite to eat or drink in front
of fasting Indonesians.
Holidays
Independence Day
August 17
Ascension of Mohammad November
16*
Christmas Day
December 25
New Year's Day
January 1
Idul Fitri
January 30-31*
Idul Adha
April 7*
Good Friday
April 10*
Moslem New Year
May 8
Waisak
May 10*
Ascension Day
May 21*
Mohammad's Birthday
July 7
Exact
dates change annually as holidays are based on the 13-month lunar calendar.
Business
Cards
Business
cards should be printed (preferably embossed) in English; however, since
ethnic Chinese constitute the majority of Indonesian business people, print
the back of the card in Chinese (gold ink is the most prestigious
for Chinese characters). The business card should contain as much
information as possible, including the business title and qualifications.
Indonesians include all of this data on their card, as well as any titles
of nobility.
The exchange
of business cards can be quite stately in Indonesia. After introductions
are made, the visiting businessperson should offer a business card.
Make sure you give a card to each person present. Present your card
with both hands; the most deferential method is to present your card in
your right hand, with your left hand lightly supporting your right wrist.
Give your card to the recipient with the print facing him or her so he
or she can read it. The recipient will receive the card with both
hands, then study the card for a few moments before carefully putting it
away in a pocket. Never put a business card in a back pocket.
While it is useful to write information such as the pronunciation of a
name on someone's business card, do not let the person see you writing
on his or her card.
Meetings
Foreign
businesspersons are expected to be on time for all business appointments,
especially if meeting someone with a higher social rank than yourself.
In general, the higher the status of an Indonesian, the more he or she
is likely to appreciate punctuality. Executives and government officials
will understand promptness but they still have a right to make subordinates
wait.
A majority
of Indonesian business people are Chinese. Their culture is very
work oriented, and are likely to be prompt. Other business people
and the majority of government officials are Malays. Their culture
is different from that of the Chinese; they have a flexible concept of
time.
The casual
Indonesian attitude toward time allows you to schedule appointments on
short notice; large corporations require you to schedule appointments more
than a week in advance. Indonesian executives tend to be more accessible
than executives in many countries. It is common for an Indonesian
CEO to meet with foreign businesspersons.
Promptness
has never been a virtue in the Malay culture of Indonesia. Many Indonesian
laborers consider themselves punctual if they arrive within a few hours
of the appointment. The Indonesian term jam karet (rubber time) refers
to the indigenous casual attitude toward time. Only a true emergency,
such as a death or serious illness encourages most Indonesians (ethnic
Malays) in haste or punctuality.
In general,
Indonesians arrive at social functions an hour late. Status is also
important at social events. When invited to a social event, Indonesians
try to ascertain is the most important guest. They will then attempt
to arrive later than lesser personages but earlier than more important
ones.
Three
calendars are in common use in Indonesia. The Western, Gregorian,
calendar is the official calendar. Islamic holidays are dated by
the Arabic calendar, which loses about eleven days each year when compared
to the Western calendar. Finally, there is a Hindu influenced Javanese
calendar. Certain days when different calendars coincide are considered
lucky.
Indonesia
spans three time zones.
Negotiating
Bahasa
Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia. Although many government
officials will speak some English, they may prefer to hold meetings their
native tongue; older Indonesians may understand Dutch. An English
speaking translator is usually available.
All official
correspondence with government officials must be in Bahas Indonesia and
for many advertisements publications. English is the language for
many business transactions and much business correspondence in Indonesia.
Attempts to use Bahasa Indonesia are appreciated.
Establishing
a comfortable and productive relationship with the Indonesians takes time
and decision-making can be slow. Building a rapport outside the office
is important, and businesspersons will be invited to a social event as
a means of building a relationship. Generally the purpose of the
first meeting is to get acquainted. The pace of business negotiations
in Indonesia is far slower than that of the United States and requires
patience, perseverance, and persistence. Business deals generally
take several trips over a period of months. A deal is not complete
until all the paperwork is signed; and the Indonesians may consult astrologers
before signing an agreement.
Politeness
is one of the most important attributes for successful relationships in
Indonesia but does not deter Indonesian business people in getting their
own way. Everyone has status in Indonesia, and everyone has a ranking
in importance. In Bahasa Indonesia, a successful conversion with
a person requires knowing whether he or she is your superior, inferior,
or equal; even when the conversation is in English, Indonesians will not
feel comfortable until they know the ranking of the businessperson.
For this reason, Indonesians will ask very personal questions about an
individual's job, education, and salary.
Indonesians
show great deference to a superior. Employees will shield a person
in authority from receiving negative information in public; it is important
to develop an inside contact to get the truth in private.
Indonesians
rarely say "no." It is important to be perceptive enough to understand
when a polite "yes meaning no" and not an actual "yes." When there
are any qualifications attached such as, "it might be difficult" or "yes
but", the response is "no". Sucking air through the teeth means "no"
and evading may mean "no".
Indonesians
of all ethnic groups are comfortable with silence, in both business and
social settings. Allow a long period for response; do not complete
the sentences of others.
Smiles
or laughter may hide embarrassment, shyness, bitterness, discord, and/or
loss of face. A person who loses his or her temper is considered
unable to control himself or herself and loses trust and respect.
It is
considered polite among Indonesian Chinese to offer positive and negative
options when asking for a decision. Questions may include "want or
not want," "good or not," "can or can not".
Be cautious
in asking an Indonesian Chinese a question. English speakers would
give a negative answer to the question "Isn't tomorrow a holiday?" by responding,
"No" (meaning, "No, it's not a holiday"). The Chinese pattern is
the opposite: "Yes" (meaning, "Yes, it is not a holiday").
In Indonesia,
individuals are not singled out in public for compliments or criticism.
Individuals are expected to be part of a group, and it is the group that
is addressed.
Conversation
Topics
Topics
to avoid in conversation include criticism of Indonesian culture, religion,
government, human rights, politics, sex, roles of the sexes, or personal
success.
Appropriate
topics for discussion include tourism, travel, plans for the future, organizational
success, food (compliment Indonesian cuisine), attempts to learn Bahasa
Indonesia, and population control programs and methods.
There
is little conversation while eating; silent meals are common.
Links
to More Information
Dress
.
|
