International Headteacher
Menu
Facts and Statistics
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya Capital: Tunis Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south Population: 9,974,722 (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1% Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1% Government: republic The Language Arabic,is the official language, and while some businessmen speak English, Italian or German, French is usually the language of commerce. French is less apt to be understood in the far south. English and German are also spoken in major cities. Why not learn some useful Arabic phrases or French phrases? Tunisian Society & Culture Islam Islam is practised by the majority of Tunisians 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 so many men will go for afternoon prayers but unlike many Muslim countries the weekend is still Saturday and Sunday. 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. Tunisian Family Values - The family is the most significant unit of Tunisian life and plays an important role in all social relations. - The individual is always subordinate to the family or group. - The family consists of both the nuclear and the extended family. Etiquette & Customs in Tunisia Meeting Etiquette - Tunisians take their time during greetings to converse about their families, friends, and other general topics. - Handshakes are the customary greeting among individuals of the same sex. - In any greeting between men and women, the woman must extend her hand first. If she does not, a man should simply bow his head in acknowledgment. - At parties or other social gatherings your hosts will introduce you, usually starting with the women and then moving on to the men in a rough approximation of age order, oldest to youngest. - Greet and say good-bye to each person individually. Gift Giving Etiquette - If you are invited to a Tunisian's home bring pastries, nuts, fruit, cake, candy, or flowers to the hostess. - Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks. - Gifts are not opened when received. Dining Etiquette If you are invited to a Tunisian's home: - You may be asked to remove your shoes. - Dress well. Dressing well demonstrates respect towards your hosts. - Check to see if your spouse is included in the invitation. Conservative Tunisians may not entertain mixed-sex groups. In fact, you may never meet the host's wife! - Complement the house. Table manners - Food is traditionally served at a knee-high round table but this has now changed to match the European habits of table and chairs. -The guest of honour generally sits next to the host. - A washing basin will be brought to the table before the meal is served. Hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. - Dry your hands on the towel provided. - Males and females may often eat separately: men first and then women. - Do not begin eating until the host blesses the food or begins to eat. - Food is served from a communal bowl. - Eat from the section of the bowl that is in front of you. Never reach across the bowl to get something from the other side. As an honoured guest, choice morsels will be put in front of you. - Food is eaten by hand but many now use knives and forks. You will be given a spoon to eat couscous. - If using your hands scoop the food with the first two fingers of the right hand. - Eat only with the right hand. - It is considered good manners to try a bit of everything. - The washing basin will be brought around the table again at the end of the meal. - Expect to be urged to take more food from the communal plate. Business Etiquette and Protocol Relationships & Communication - Tunisians prefer to do business with those they know and respect; therefore they spend time cultivating a personal relationship before beginning to conduct business. - As in other Arab countries, Tunisians pride themselves on being gracious hosts. - The French has also heavily influenced their business practices so expect both courtesy and a degree of formality. Quite often business is discussed in cafe and restaurants. - Since Tunisians judge people on appearances dress well. - If you have an advanced university degree from a prestigious university or have achieved special recognition in your business field, weave this information into your conversation since credentials impress Tunisians. Business Meeting Etiquette - Appointments are necessary and should be made as far in advance as possible and confirmed a day or two before the meeting. - It is best to avoid scheduling meetings in July and August when the heat is most intense. - Workdays are shorter during Ramadan and since Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day it is another time best avoided since your hosts would not be able to offer you mint tea. - Most businesses close for lunch from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Businesses may also close at prayer times. - In general, Tunisians have an open-door policy, even during meetings. This means you may experience frequent interruptions. Others ay even wander into the room and start a different discussion. You may join in, but do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new person leaves. - Business meetings start after prolonged small talk. - French is the language of business. If you are not fluent, you may need to hire an interpreter. Business Negotiations - The social side of business is very important. Tunisians must know and like you to conduct business. Personal relationships are necessary for long-term business. - Companies are hierarchical. The highest-ranking person makes decisions, after obtaining group consensus. - Decisions are reached after great deliberation. - Business meetings generally start after prolonged small talk. - Tunisians look for long-term business relationships. - Never criticize publicly. It is important not to cause your Tunisian colleagues to lose face. - Tunisians are non- confrontational. They may agree in meetings rather than cause you to lose face. They do not like to say 'no' overtly. - Deadlines are seen as fluid rather than cast in stone. - Decisions are made slowly. Do not try to rush the process as it would be interpreted as an insult. - It generally takes several visits to accomplish simple tasks. Be patient. - Do not use high-pressure tactics. - Do not rush or show impatience with the time taken to accomplish something. Dress Etiquette - Business attire is formal and conservative. - Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits to the initial meeting. - In the heat of the summer, it is often possible to dispense with the suit jacket, although it is best to err on the side of formality. - Women should wear business suits or dresses. - Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately. Skirts and dresses should cover the knee and sleeves should cover most of the arm. Business Cards - Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual. - Business cards should be bi- lingual: Arabic and French. Alternatively, you may have two cards: English/Arabic and English/French. - Present your card so the French side faces the recipient. - Give your business card to the highest-ranking Tunisian first. Useful Information and Links about Tunisia * Currency - the currency of Tunisia is known as the Dinar (TND). Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP or Euro. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Tunisia. * News - check out all the latest Google news on Tunisia. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code is +216. * Time - Tunisia is +1 hour GMT. * Hotels - Hotel Reservations in Tunisia. * History - read about the long and rich history of Tunisia. Being a Manager in Tunisia The business set up in Tunisia is conservative and hierarchical and to ensure successful cross cultural management it is important to remember that strictly defined roles exist. Alway err on the side of conservative behaviour through your dress code and general conduct and show and expect to be shown the appropriate deference to position, age and rank. Intercultural adaptability relies on an understanding of this hierarchical system. This belief means that people believe their supervisors have been chosen because of their greater experience. Expect to be served tea each time you meet someone since this is an important part of Tunisian hospitality. If you decline the beverage, you will be seen as rejecting the person. As in other Muslim countries, Tunisians pride themselves on being gracious hosts. The French have also heavily influenced their business practices so expect both courtesy and a degree of formality. Quite often business is discussed in cafés and restaurants. Since business is considered personal, it is fairly common for Tunisians to request favours. Even if you think that you will not be able to comply, it is a good idea to agree. Your Tunisian colleague will appreciate your agreement and will understand that circumstances intervened that prevented you from doing so. The Role of a Manager Cross cultural communication will be more effective when you are working in Tunisia, if you remember that honour and reputation play an important role. When holding meetings, it is important to ensure that any ideas raised do not expose or embarrass the individual. Managers should avoid praising individuals as all projects are to be undertaken collectively. The paternalism between manager and employee means that the role of managers often extends beyond the working life. Approach to Change Tunisia’s intercultural competence and readiness for change is low. Its’ conservatism means that change can often be seen as a threat to society. Managers are therefore likely to be averse to change and it is essential that any changes are viewed as positive for the ‘whole’ and not just an individual. Of course, change does happen, but effective management in Tunisia needs to take into account that any change is going to take longer to implement and will be driven by a group effort. Approach to Time and Priorities Deadlines and timescales are fluid. Patience is the key to successful intercultural management when working in Tunisia. Essentially a relationship-driven culture, it should be understood that taking the time to get to know someone will always take precedence over any timelines. Don’t rush the relationship building process or you may jeopardise any future business dealings. When working with people from Tunisia, it’s advisable to reinforce the importance of the agreed-upon deadlines and how that may affect the rest of the organization. However, it isn’t unusual for a manager in Tunisia to avoid confrontation over a deadline in order to maintain a positive relationship within the team. 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 Managers reach decisions after many discussions with the major stakeholders. Egalitarianism within the group is part of the Tunisian business culture. Once a decision is reached, it is given to subordinates to implement. Employees do not publicly question a manager’s decisions as this would cause both parties to diminish their reputation. Risk-taking is limited to those in decision making positions. Boss or Team Player Due to the hierarchical set up in Tunisia, it is important that the manager maintains his / her role as ‘boss’ and engenders the necessary respect from within the team. Cross cultural sensitivity is essential as it is important any individual contributing ideas that are deemed irrelevant or impractical does not feel shamed in front of his/her colleagues and that the rest of the group feel able to continue participating and offering their contributions. Communication and Negotiation Styles Intercultural sensitivity is essential. The social side of business is very important. Tunisians must know and like you to conduct business. Personal relationships are necessary for long-term business. Business meetings generally start after prolonged small talk. Companies are hierarchical. The highest-ranking person makes decisions, after obtaining consensus of the stakeholders. Do not try to rush the process as it would be interpreted as an insult. Never criticize publicly. It is important not to diminish your Tunisian colleague’s reputation. |
information provided by www.kwintessential.co.uk