North America ( april 30th lesson)

This time the presentation was about North America, region which comprises: Mexico , U.S.A. and Canada and their influence in business worldwide.

1. What did I learn?

Let´s start with USA. known as the potential economy, USA is the most influential country in the world. Few aspects that describe it:

• Capital: Washington, DC
• Population: 301.139.947
• Government type: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $13.13 trillion.

Moreover, its industries are mainly: technology, petroleum, steel, motor, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electornics, food processing, consumer goods, mining and so on.

Mexico. Some features:

• Capital: México (Distrito Federal).
• Population: 108,700,891
• Government type: federal republic.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.149 trillion

About the mexican industries, we have got: those related to food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism- this lattest in increasing significantly.

Canada. Its capital is Ottawa. Canada has got a population around 33,390,141 people, its government system is a constitutional monarchy and Canada has got a GDP (purchasing power parity)of $1.178 trillion, more or less. Among its industries there are: transportation, equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas.

The NAFTA: the North American Free Trade Agreement wasi mplemented in order to reduce trade and investment barriers among the three north american countries. In addition,
Under the NAFTA framework, all non-tariff barriers to agricultural trade between the United States and Mexico were eliminated at all.

According to the cultural aspect, the Hosftede analysis was carried out, coming up results for USA such as: the individualism, a moderate power distance, a low uncertainty avoidance. By its side, Canada has got a trend to individualims as well, a moderate power distance, a low uncertainty avoidance and a male society. On the contrary, Mexico, has got collectivism trend, a high power distance, a high uncertainty avoidance and a strongly male society. These asprect allow us to understand the evironment of the North American countries.

A study was presented in which mexicans and american were involved. A 3 stage study was carried out and the conclusion was: "An interorganizational relationship across borders and cultures complicate expectations, because you do not know how it is likely to react the other part". The cooperative and individual views were remarkable at thsi point.
Finally, referring to the business model in each single country, we could find out that Americans and Canadians share several aspects in their countries as well as in the business way. They mind a lot about punctuality, they dress properly and a long term relationship is not in the agenda. On the other hand, Mexicans due to its latin roots, they are most flexible about time and about hte way the carry the meetings. Colombians can feel identified by the mexican model.

2. Question: Mexicans: I love or I hate USA???

3. Answer: Due to the historical facts lived by Americans and Mexicans, i did find a BBC news article pretty interesting that caught my attention: It is about a series or interviews made to children, to Mexicans ones, who have their own opinions about what USA mean to them. I did read it and I like it so much, moreover, I learnt that a child´s point of view should be taken into account with the same importance than an adult´s opinion.

this is the link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/specials/2006/generacion_futuro/newsid_6200000/6200392.stm

SOURCES:

• North America presentation.
• www.bbcmundo.com