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Location: The Middle East, bordering Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km Capital: Tehran Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast Population: 69,018,924 (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloochi 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1% Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2% Government: Islamic republic |
The Iranian Language
Iran has a heterogeneous population speaking a variety of Indo-Iranian, Semitic, and Turkic languages. The largest language group consists of the speakers of Indo-Iranian languages, who in 1986 comprised about 70 percent of the population. The speakers of Indo-Iranian languages are not, however, a homogeneous group. They include speakers of Persian, the official language of the country, and its various dialects; speakers of Kirmanji, the term for related dialects spoken by the Kurds who live in the cities, towns, and villages of western Iran and adjacent areas of Iraq and Turkey; speakers of Luri, the language of the Bakhtiaris and Lurs who live in the Zagros; and Baluchi, the language of the seminomadic people who live in southeastern Iran and adjacent areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Approximately 28 percent of the population speaks various dialects of Turkish. Speakers of Semitic languages include Arabs and Assyrians. Iranian Society & Culture Islam and Shi'ism Islam is practised by the majority of Iranians and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion. Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday. During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Expatriates are not required to fast; however, they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public. Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often continue well into the night. In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times. Iran is the only country of all Muslim countries that is officially a Shi'ite state. The others being considered Sunni states. When the prophet Mohammed died, the question over who should be his successor divided the Muslim population. What has now become the Sunnis believed the leadership of the community did not have to come from the Prophet's family, while Shi'ites disagreed. Although most Islamic countries contain members of both sects, Iran and Iraq have the highest numbers of Shi'ites. Family Values . In Iran, the family is the basis of the social structure. . The concept of family is more private than in many other cultures. Female relatives must be protected from outside influences and are taken care of at all times. It is inappropriate to ask questions about an Iranian's wife or other female relatives. . Iranians take their responsibilities to their family quite seriously. . Families tend to be small, only 1 or 2 children, but the extended family is quite close. . The individual derives a social network and assistance in times of need from the family. . Elderly relatives are kept at home, not placed in a nursing home. . Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationship, even business. . Nepotism is considered a good thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance. Public vs. Private . Iranians see themselves as having two distinct identities: "zaher" (public) and "batin" (private). . When they are in public, they must conform to accepted modes of behaviour. It is only within their homes among their inner circle that they feel free to be themselves. Family members are always part of the inner circle. . The inner circle forms the basis of a person's social and business network. Friendship is very important and extends into business. The people from the inner circle can be relied upon to: offer advice, help find a job, or cut through bureaucracy. Taarof (Iranian Politeness) . Taarof is a system of politeness that includes both verbal and non-verbal communication. . Iranians protest compliments and attempt to appear vulnerable in public. . They will belittle their own accomplishments in an attempt to appear humble, although other Iranians understand that this is merely courtesy and do not take the words at face value. . In adherence to taarof, if you are ever offered something, like a tea or sweet, even if you want it, at first decline it until their insistence becomes greater. Etiquette and Customs in Iran Meeting Etiquette . Introductions are generally restricted to members of the same sex since men and women socialize separately. . Greetings tend to be affectionate. Men kiss other men and women kiss other women at social events. If they meet on the street, a handshake is the more common greeting . When Iranians greet each other they take their time and converse about general things. . The most common greeting is "salaam alaykum" or more simply "salaam" (peace). Gift Giving Etiquette . Iranians give gifts at various social occasions such as returning from a trip or if someone achieves a major success in their personal or business life. . On birthdays, businesspeople bring sweets and cakes to the office and do not expect to receive gifts. . It is common to give monetary gifts to servants or others who have provided services during the year on No Ruz (The Iranian New Year). Money should be new bank notes or gold coins. . If you are invited to an Iranian's house, bring flowers, or pastry to the hosts. When giving a gift, always apologize for its inadequacy. . Gifts should be elegantly wrapped - most shops will wrap them for you. . Gifts are not generally opened when received. In fact, they may be put on a table and not mentioned. Dining Etiquette If you are invited to an Iranian's house: . Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door. . Dress conservatively. . Try to arrive at the invited time. Punctuality is appreciated. . Show respect for the elders by greeting them first. . Check to see if your spouse is included in the invitation. Conservative Iranians do not entertain mixed-sex groups. . Expect to be shown into the guests' room. It is usually lavishly furnished with European furniture. . Shake everyone's hand individually. . Accept any offer of food or drink. Remember to do 'taarof'. Table manners: Iranians are rather formal. Although some meals in the home are served on the floor and without eating utensils, it does not indicate a lack of decorum. In more modern homes, meals are served on a dining table with place settings. . Wait to be told where to sit. . Eat only with the right hand. . Try a bit if everything that is served. . Meals are generally served family-style. . Most tables are set with a spoon and fork only. . There is often more food than you can eat. Part of Iranian hospitality is to shower guests with abundance. . Expect to be offered second and even third helpings. Initial refusals will be assumed to be polite gestures (taarof again!) and are not taken seriously. . Leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating. Restaurants generally have two sections - "family" where women and families dine and "men only". Tips of between 10 and 15% are appreciated in hotel restaurants. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Iran Relationships & Communication . Iranians prefer to do business with those they know and respect, therefore they expect to spend time cultivating a personal relationship before business is conducted. . Who you know is often more important than what you know, so it is important to network and cultivate a number of contacts. . Expect to be offered tea whenever you meet someone, as this demonstrates hospitality. . Since Iranians judge people on appearances, dress appropriately and stay in a high standard hotel. Business Meeting Etiquette . Appointments are necessary and should be made 4 to 6 weeks in advance. . Confirm the meeting one week in advance and when you arrive in the country. . It is a good idea to avoid scheduling meetings during Ramazan (Ramadan) as the need to fast would preclude your business colleagues from offering you hospitality. . Arrive at meetings on time, since punctuality is seen as a virtue. . The first meeting with an Iranian company is generally not business-focused. Expect your colleagues to spend time getting to know you as a person over tea and snacks. . Be patient - meetings are frequently interrupted. . Written materials should be available in both Farsi and English. . Do not remove your suit jacket without permission. . Do not look at your watch or try to rush the meeting. If you appear fixated on the amount of time the meeting is taking, you will not be trusted. Business Negotiating . It takes time for Iranians to become warm towards foreign businesspeople. Until then, they may appear somewhat stiff and formal. . Personal relationships form the basis of business dealings. . Decisions are made slowly. . Iranians are deliberate negotiators who can drive a hard bargain. . Do not use high-pressure tactics. They will work against you. . Iranians may display emotion, or even walk out of the meeting, or threaten to terminate the relationship in an attempt to convince you to change your position. . Iranians often use time as a negotiating tactic, especially if they know that you have a deadline. Be cautious about letting your business colleagues know that you are under time pressure. . Companies are hierarchical. Decisions are made at the top of the company, either by one person or a small council. Dress Etiquette . Business attire is formal and conservative. . Men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits. . Ties are not worn by Iranians but it would not be seen as negative if you did so. . Dress well to make a good impression. . Women should always dress modestly and cover their hair. Titles . Address your Iranian business associates by their title and their surname. . The title "doktor" is used for both M.D.s and Ph.D.s. Engineers are called "mohandis". These titles are are preceded by the formal titles listed below and are used with the surname. . The title "agha" (sir) is used when addressing men. It may be used before or after the first name. The phrase "agha-yeh" is put before a surname. . The title "khanoom" (madam) is used when addressing women. It may be used before or after the first name. The phrase "khanom-eh" is used before the surname. . Wait to be invited before moving to first names. Only close friends and family use this informal form of address. Business Cards . Business cards are only exchanged by senior-level people. . Since rank and position are very important, make sure your business card includes your title. . Have one side of your card translated into Farsi. . Present your card so the Farsi side faces the recipient. Being a Manager in Iran To ensure successful cross cultural management in Iran, you need be aware of the strict protocols and rituals that exist. When managing in Iran, it is important to keep in mind that each person has a very distinct role within the organization, and maintaining that role helps to keep order. The Role of a Manager In Iran, 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. This may include involvement in their family, housing, health, and other practical life issues. It is the supervisor’s job to regularly check on the work of a subordinate and to provide regular constructive feedback. This may include monitoring work quality and the timing of its completion. Approach to Change Iran’s intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is minimal. This means that change is difficult to bring about and is not received with any enthusiasm. Projects will need to be carefully analyzed every step of the way to assure that all the risks have been assessed and understood. Failure in Iran causes a long-term loss of confidence by the individual as well as by others. Because of this attitude, intercultural sensitivity is going to be required, especially when conducting group meetings and discussing contributions made my participating individuals. Approach to Time and Priorities People in Iran will not want to upset others in order to force adherence to a deadline, and while appointments and schedules need to be set well in advance as a sign of respect for the individual, you need to understand that those schedules are seen as flexible, not necessarily needing to be adhered to. When working with people from Iran, it’s advisable to reinforce the importance of the agreed-upon deadlines and how that may affect the rest of the organization. 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 Many companies are family-owned. Decisions are usually made at the top of the company, either by the most senior ranking person or by a small council of senior level staff. Decisions are often reached after discussions with everyone who will be affected. Once a decision is reached, it is handed down to subordinates to implement. Employees do not question the decisions that have been reached. Managers or those in a position to do so will make decisions, while in general their subordinates will wait to be told what to do. Risk-taking is limited to those in decision making positions. Employees are generally treated with respect. In turn, employees treat their manager with the respect and deference attributable to their position. Meeting deadlines is often secondary to maintaining personal relationships. Intercultural sensitivity is necessary and you must remember that managers do not publicly chastise employees because it would cause the subordinate to lose dignity and respect. Boss or Team Player If you are working in Iran intercultural sensitivity is essential. It is important to remember that reputation plays an important role. The risk becomes amplified in a team or collaborative setting. If you would like to encourage participation it is important first to clearly establish a non-threatening work environment and communicate fully that their participation is desired. Successful cross cultural management will rely on the individual’s interpersonal skills and ability to maintain cordial relationships with their subordinates. Communication and Negotiation Styles It takes time for Iranians to become warm towards foreign businesspeople. Until then, they may appear somewhat stiff and formal. Cross cultural management will be more effective when working with the understanding that personal relationships form the basis of business dealings and decisions are made slowly. Iranians are deliberate negotiators who can drive a hard bargain. Do not use high-pressure tactics as they are generally counterproductive. Iranians may display emotion, or even walk out of the meeting, or threaten to terminate the relationship in an attempt to convince you to change your position. Do not emulate this behavior. Iranians often use time as a negotiating tactic, especially if they know that you have a deadline. Be cautious about letting your business colleagues know that you are under time pressure. Companies are hierarchical. Iran related Links and Resources * Currency - the currency of Iran is the Rial. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP, etc. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Iran. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Iran. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Iran is +98. * Time - Iran is +3.30 hours GMT. * History - read about the long and rich history of Iran. * Hotels - Hotels in Iran. |
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