Useful Advices - Business

To say that today's business environment is becoming increasingly more global is to state the obvious. Meetings, phone calls and conferences are held all over the world and attendees can come from any point on the globe. On any given business day you can find yourself dealing face-to-face, over the

According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product

phone, by e-mail and, on rare occasions, by postal letter with people whose customs and cultures differ your own. You may never have to leave home to interact on an international level.

While the old adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" still holds true, business clients and colleagues who ar

; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.

Examples of combination products may in

visiting this country should be treated with sensitivity and with an awareness of their unique culture. Not to do your homework and put your best international foot forward can cost you relationships and future business. One small misstep such as using first names inappropriately, not observing the

lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.

rules of timing or sending the wrong color flower in the welcome bouquet can be costly.

There is no one set of rules that applies to all international visitors so do the research for each country that your clients represent. That may sound like a daunting task, but taken in small steps, it is mana

here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe

eable and the rewards are worth the effort. Keeping in mind that there are as many ways to do business as there are countries to do business with, here are a few tips for minding your global P's and Q's.

Building relationships: Few other people are as eager to get down to business as we Americans.

d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.

Combination pro

So take time to get to know your international clients and build rapport before you rush to the bottom line. Business relationships are built on trust that is developed over time, especially with people from Asia and Latin America.

Dressing conservatively: Americans like to dress for fashion and

ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc

comfort, but people from other parts of the world are generally more conservative. Your choice of business attire is a signal of your respect for the other person or organization. Leave your trendy clothes in the closet on the days that you meet with your foreign guests.

Observe the hierarchy: It

easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi

s not always a simple matter to know who is the highest-ranking member when you are dealing with a group. To avoid embarrassment, err on the side of age and masculine gender, only if you are unable to discover the protocol with research. If you are interacting with the Japanese, it is important to

nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically

understand that they make decisions by consensus, starting with the younger members of the group. By contrast, Latin people have a clear hierarchy that defers to age.

Understanding the handshake: With a few exceptions, business people around the world use the handshake for meeting and greeting.

and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ

owever, the American style handshake with a firm grip, two quick pumps, eye contact and a smile is not universal. Variations in handshakes are based on cultural differences, not on personality or values. The Japanese give a light handshake. Germans offer a firm shake with one pump, and the French gri

ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi

is light with a quick pump. Middle Eastern people will continue shaking your hand throughout the greeting. Don't be surprised if you are occasionally met with a kiss, a hug, or a bow somewhere along the way.

Using titles and correct forms of address: We are very informal in the United States and a

ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.

Following aspects would a

re quick to call people by their first name. Approach first names with caution when dealing with people from other cultures. Use titles and last names until you have been invited to use the person's first name. In some cases, this may never occur. Use of first names is reserved for family and close f

dd to the challenges in developing combination products:

Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod

iends in some cultures.

Titles are given more significance around the world than in the United States and are another important aspect of addressing business people. Earned academic degrees are acknowledged. For example, a German engineer is addressed as "Herr Ingenieur" and a professor as "Herr Pr

cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin

ofessor". Listen carefully when you are introduced to someone and pay attention to business cards when you receive them.

Exchanging business cards: The key to giving out business cards in any culture is to show respect for the other person. Present your card so that the other person does not have to

tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen

turn it over to read your information. Use both hands to present your card to visitors from Japan, China, Singapore, or Hong Kong. When you receive someone else's business card, always look at it and acknowledge it. When you put it away, place it carefully in your card case or with your business doc

t?

As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel

ments. Sticking it haphazardly in your pocket is demeaning to the giver. In most cases, wait until you have been introduced to give someone your card.

Valuing time. Not everyone in the world is as time conscious as Americans. Don't take it personally if someone from a more relaxed culture keeps yo

ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.

Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust

u waiting or spends more of that commodity than you normally would in meetings or over meals. Stick to the rules of punctuality, but be understanding when your contact from another country seems unconcerned.

Honoring space issues: Americans have a particular value for their own physical space and

y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products

re uncomfortable when other people get in their realm. If the international visitor seems to want to be close, accept it. Backing away can send the wrong message. So can touching. You shouldn't risk violating someone else's space by touching them in any way other than with a handshake.

Whether th

.

As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de

e world comes to you or you go out to it, the greatest compliment you can pay your international clients is to learn about their country and their customs. Understand differences in behavior and honor them with your actions. Don't take offense when visitors behave according to their norms. People

elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.

Companies that provide selfless information through particip

rom other cultures will appreciate your efforts to accommodate them and you will find yourself building your international clientele.

(c)2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved. Reprint rights granted so long as the article and by-line are reproduced intact and all links are made live

tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products

HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.usefuladvices.org.ua/article/19029/usefuladvices-Minding-Your-Global-Manners.html">Minding Your Global Manners</a>

BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.usefuladvices.org.ua/article/19029/usefuladvices-Minding-Your-Global-Manners.html]Minding Your Global Manners[/url]

With the number of small businesses increasing by the day, the competition from larger companies is also getting tough. If you own a small business, chances are that you have faced stiff competition from some mall, supermarket, or department store at one time.

Businesses are aware that postcards are versatile tools that they can have in making business known in the market. Like business cards it can be used to establish an identity in the market. The postcards that are distributed are effective means of keeping clients aware and updated. Through the professional cards that are distributed you can tell how effective they are in bringing business.

Finding the top franchise that fits your needs and wants, while keeping in mind your financial status, past experience, and business interests.

Tags

Links

Useful Advices - Minding Your Global Manners

Related Articles: