On the long flight back from South Korea, Aaron had plenty of time to reflect upon the challenges and successes of his business trip that took him to four Asian countries. His goal to sell his company's state-of-the-art bicycle pump to several foreign firms certainly could have gone better! Although the 10 companies he visited didn't turn him down, only one agreed to place an order. Representatives from one Indonesian firm and two Chinese firms asked him when he planned to come again! As Aaron reviewed his notes, he pondered, "Didn't they realize the expense of these international trips?" Aaron is experiencing:

Question

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Aaron's reflection on the challenges of his business trip reveals his realization of differences between high-context and low-context cultures. High-context cultures, such as those in East Asia, rely heavily on nonverbal communication, context, and social relationships to convey meaning, while low-context cultures, such as those in the West, favor explicit verbal communication and individualism. Aaron likely struggled to understand the subtle cues and gestures used in these cultures, which may have resulted in his difficulty in selling his company's product.

On the Long Flight Back from South Korea, Aaron Had