An American sales team offended a group of Brazilian businesspeople by starting its sales presentation without first engaging in informal conversation as expected in the Brazilian culture.The communication barrier in this instance could be attributed to

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The failure to engage in informal conversation before starting the sales presentation indicates a lack of recognition of the different frames of reference between American and Brazilian cultures. In Brazil, building relationships and socializing are important before conducting business. By not adhering to this cultural norm, the American sales team failed to recognize the importance of informal communication in the Brazilian culture, causing offense to the Brazilian businesspeople.

An American Sales Team Offended a Group of Brazilian Businesspeople