Other cultures more readily accept changes in structure and in turn are more accepting of new ideas and people. Different cultures use space differently. In some countries an office is valued, in others all employees sit in an open plan environment. Respect of personal space is also important. In some cultures public kissing is appropriate whereas in other cultures touching the head is culturally inappropriate.
Cultural norms dictate what the participants feel comfortable with.
If something is out of the norm they feel threatened and confused and will not perceive the situation positively. Employees from different cultures have different attitudes to time. Some participants may have a single-minded focus towards time and can commit to schedules, whereas others may value relationship building over deadlines. This applies not only to cultural subgroups within the organsiation but also to strategic alliances and partnerships. Australian pharmaceutical industry participants will be playing increasingly prominent roles within the Asia-Pacific region.