The Research Of Business Environment In Theravada Buddhist Southeast Asia:from The Perspective Of Cross-culture

In recent years, globalization develops rapidly, and multinational enterprises grow steadily. In the international business practices, more and more enterprises realize the importance of cross-cultural management. Cultural differences make multinational enterprises meet challenges in the process of management, and overcoming these differences becomes the key to success. Because of the common religion-Theravada Buddhism, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar formed particular business culture. With the implementation of "going global" strategy, the business activities of Chinese enterprises have increased gradually in this region. If effective cross-cultural management cannot be carry out, the operational efficiency will be reduced, and may even leading to the failure of multinational business. This paper is an international business study of Theravada Buddhist Southeast Asia. Using a cross-disciplinary approach, the paper examines business practices within a historical, natural environmental, political, cultural, economic, and religious context. It highlights those cultural and historical ties of the region that are shared because of a common religion. In analyzing business environments, the paper provides a deeper understanding of the influence of cultural values on work practices in Southeast Asia.The paper introduces classical cross-cultural management theories, demonstrates the history and development of Theravada Buddhism in this region, and on the basis analyses business environment of the four countries. And then, from the perspective of companies, the author tries to summarize the characteristics of local companies, the development of Chinese enterprises in the region, and their cross-cultural problems. According to specific case analysis, the author provides three cross-cultural management strategies in the end to help Chinese enterprises enter Southeast Asian market more successfully.