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Bolivia |
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Facts & Statistics
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil Bordering Countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km Population: 8,857,870 (July 2005 est.) Ethnic Groups: Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15% Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5% |
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Language in Bolivia
Spanish is the main and official language of Bolivia. However there are some 39 other living languages used in the country spoken by people in different regions. Examples include Aymara, Chiquitano, Chiriguano and Guyara. Some 50% of the population have an indigenous language as their mother tongue. Bolivian Spanish as a result of mixing with its indigenous rivals differs from region to region. The vocabulary and pronunciation differs according to where in Bolivia you are, i.e. highlands (Altiplano and valleys) or the lowlands (Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando). Bolivian Society & Culture Religion . Most Bolivians are born into Roman Catholicism. . Religion tends to be a female dominated activity in terms of attending church and the like. . Catholicism to some extent has been "localised" as it became intertwined with local folklore and customs in its early years of taking root in the country. The Family . The family is the axis of the social life and structure. . Families are very tight knit and in rural areas, many generations still often live together in one house. . The extended family or "familia" serves as a strong support and network system. . Roles within the family are very traditional - "Machismo" is very much alive. . The wife is generally responsible for domestic duties whereas the husband with be the bread winner. . The machismo mentality often translates into a feeling of male superiority and a strong sense of honour which means maintaining face/dignity at all cost. Classes . Due to Bolivia's history a number of differing ethnic groups have converged which now form a class system. . Bolivia is basically made up of a small number of whites, a larger group of 'mestizos' (intermarriage of whites with indigenous Indians), a majority of native Indians ('Quechua' or 'Aymara') and a small number of blacks who are descended from the slaves imported during the Spanish colonial period. . Traditionally the whites minority occupy the top rung on the class ladder. This is mainly due to socioeconomic factors rather than skin colour. Etiquette and Customs in Bolivia Meeting & Greeting . The handshake is the most common form of greeting. . Direct eye contact is also usual. . When meeting people will use the most appropriate greeting for the time of day - these are "buenos dias" (good morning), "buenas tardes" (good day), or "buenas noches"(good evening). . People with an informal relationship will be warmer and embrace or pat each other on the shoulder. Women will kiss on the cheek. . Unlike Europeans Bolivians use both their maternal and paternal surnames. The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation. . When a woman gets married she usually adds her husband's first surname to her first surname with the connector "de", so if Jennifer Maria Lopez marries Manuel Sebastien Costa, she would be called Jennifer Maria de Costa. . If you know of someone's title always use it. Gift Giving Etiquette Gifts are usually given at birthdays, Christmas and New Year. The general rule is by good quality but price is not too important. Some general gift giving tips include: . Take flowers, spirits, pastries, sweets/chocolates if invited to a house for Do not give yellow or purple flowers as they have negative connotations. . Do not give scissors or knives as they indicate a desire to sever the relationship. . Gifts are not generally opened when received. Dining Etiquette Here are some general dining etiquette tips: . Punctuality is not expected - arrive a good 20 to 30 minutes late. . It is not good form to discuss business at social functions -concentrate of getting to know people on a personal level. . At a table the guest is served first. . The host generally says "buen provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite guests to eat. . Keep elbows off the table. . It is considered polite to refuse food the first time it is offered and wait for the hist to insist before accepting. . Always use utensils - even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork. . Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink. . The host makes the first toast. . The most common toast is "Salud!" . When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted. . Never leave straight after a meal - you should stay for at least half an hour. Business Etiquette and Protocol Meeting & Greeting . Bolivians tend to be formal in their business dealings. . It is always best to maintain a level of professionalism. . Shake hands when meeting and leaving. . Wait for a woman to extend her hand. . Eye contact is important. . Professional or academic titles with the surname are used in business. Common titles are "Doctor" (medical doctor or Ph.D.), "Ingeniero" (engineer), and "Licenciado" (lawyer or university degree). . If someone does not have a title, the honorific titles Señor or Señora are used with the surname. Business Cards . Business cards are exchanged during the initial introductions. . Try and have one side of your business card translated into Spanish. . Make sure to include any academic qualifications on your card. Meetings . Relationship building is important in Bolivia so initial meetings should always be about establishing trust and learning a little about each other. . Wait for the other party to move the conversation on to business. . Meetings are generally relaxed affairs but there is always a sense of formality that should be adhered to. . Meeting schedules are not very structured in Bolivia. There may be an agenda and a starting time, but they serve as guidelines only and may act as a springboard to other related business ideas and further discussion. . Time is not considered more important than completing a meeting satisfactorily, therefore meetings will continue until the discussion is completed. . Be careful not to be too direct in your communication style - negative responses should be diplomatically put so as not to cause a loss of face or dignity. . Most business is conducted in Spanish so try and arrange for your own interpreter. . Similarly have any materials translated into Spanish. . Do not rush meetings or show impatience. . Decisions are not generally reached at meetings - don't pressure people into making them. . Meetings are simply for discussion and to exchange ideas. Being a Manager in Bolivia The business set up in Bolivia is very formal and cross cultural management will be more successful if you bear in mind the importance of being courteous at all times. Treat those in positions of authority with particular respect and deference. It is better to err on the side of being overly formal rather than jeopardize a business relationship by being too informal and appearing flippant. Spend time cultivating relationships and maintaining them once they are formed. This is a country where "who you know" is often more important than "what you know". Interpersonal relationships ("personalismo"), including loyalty to family and friends, are the linchpin of successful business interactions. The Role of a Manager Cross cultural communication will be more effective when managing in Bolivia, if you keep it in mind that each person has a very distinct role within the organization. People believe that their supervisors have been chosen because they have more experience than those they manage, and it is, therefore, unnecessary, and even inappropriate for them to consult with lower-ranking individuals when decision-making. In Bolivia, as in other hierarchical societies, managers may take a somewhat paternalistic attitude to their employees. They may demonstrate a concern for employees that goes beyond the workplace and strictly professional concerns. This may include involvement in their family, housing, health, and other practical life issues. Approach to Change Bolivia’s intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is apparent although changes are still made slowly, requiring a considerable amount of thought, planning and evaluation. It would be perceived as imprudent to introduce rapid change, and yet it would be recognized as poor management to resist change unnecessarily. Cross cultural sensitivity is important with Bolivia’s attitude toward risk dramatically impacted by the negative ramifications of failure on both the individual and the group. Approach to Time and Priorities Deadlines and timescales are fluid in Bolivia. Patience will play an essential part in successful cross cultural management. While timescales and deadlines need to be set well in advance and reiterated carefully, it should be understood that these will be viewed as flexible. Global and intercultural expansion means that some managers may have a greater appreciation of the need to enforce timescales and as such, agreed deadlines are more likely to be met. Decision Making Decisions are reached at the top of the company, often after seeking input from all the stakeholders. Since Bolivians believe business should be "win-win" scenarios, they attempt to find solutions that are in the best interest of all concerned. Managers are more autocratic than in many other countries. They tell subordinates what they want done and how they expect them to perform the task. Subordinates follow a manager’s instructions without comment, as it would be rude to challenge someone of a higher status. Boss or Team Player If you are working with people from Bolivia an intercultural understanding of the importance that hierarchy plays is needed. Traditionally, the supervisor is seen to hold that position because of superior knowledge and skills. It would traditionally have been unthinkable for someone of a higher position to collaborate with someone from a lower status. This is changing somewhat in younger generations, particularly those employed by multinational corporations. Communication and Negotiation Styles Personal relationships are important to Bolivians. They prefer to deal with those they trust; therefore they spend time developing relationships. It may take several visits to accomplish a simple task. Bolivians are skilled negotiators and drive hard bargains. Bolivians negotiate with people, not companies. Therefore it’s important not to change your team during negotiations, or you may have to start the process over. Deadlines are not seen as important and contracts are negotiated in stages. Agreements may be reversed until the final contract is signed. Cross cultural patience is going to be a necessary pre-requisite during the negotiating stages. Bolivia related links and resources * Currency - the currency of Bolivia is known as the Boliviano (BOB). Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP or Euro. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Bolivia. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Bolivia. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Bolivia is +591. * Time - Bolivia is -4 hours GMT. * Hotels - Hotels in Bolivia. * History - read about the long and rich history of Bolivia. |
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