Here’s a focused module for Oud Academia / CI-ASASE on Cultural Etiquette in Trade Negotiations, which complements your modules on ethics, FPIC, stewardship, and global market values.
Course Module
Institution: Oud Academia
Under: Crown Institute for Agarwood Science, Art, and Sustainable Enterprise (CI-ASASE)
Module Code: OA-MKT-602
Level: Advanced
Discipline: International Trade · Cultural Competence · Negotiation Ethics
Module Overview
Agarwood trade spans multiple regions, each with distinct cultural norms, rituals, and business etiquette. Understanding and respecting these practices is essential for:
- Successful and respectful negotiations
- Building trust and long-term partnerships
- Aligning ethical trade practices with cultural sensitivity
- Avoiding miscommunication or conflicts
This module provides a framework for navigating Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Western trade negotiations with cultural intelligence.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
- Recognize cultural norms and expectations in different agarwood markets
- Apply etiquette principles to enhance trust, fairness, and negotiation outcomes
- Avoid practices that could be perceived as disrespectful or unethical
- Integrate cultural understanding with ethical, sustainable trade strategies
Unit Structure & Content
Unit 1: Middle Eastern Negotiation Etiquette
Key Insights:
- High importance of personal relationships and trust before business discussions
- Use of formal greetings, hospitality, and ritualized gift-giving
- Emphasis on patience, politeness, and indirect communication
- Respect for religious and cultural values, including Friday prayers and Ramadan observances
Learning Activity:
- Simulation: Conducting a trade negotiation respecting Gulf etiquette
Unit 2: East Asian Negotiation Etiquette
Key Insights:
- Importance of face (mianzi / tatemae) and hierarchy in decision-making
- Polite formalities, gift-giving, and attention to ritual in introductions
- Consensus-oriented negotiation style; avoid confrontation or public disagreement
- Understanding of historical, ritual, or medicinal significance of agarwood
Learning Activity:
- Roleplay: Negotiating a collaborative agreement with East Asian stakeholders
Unit 3: Western Negotiation Etiquette
Key Insights:
- Direct communication and transparency valued
- Emphasis on contracts, certifications, and legal compliance
- Ethical sourcing and sustainability often part of the negotiation discussion
- Awareness of cultural diversity within Western markets
Learning Activity:
- Case study: Preparing an ethical trade pitch for European and North American buyers
Unit 4: Integrating Ethics and Cultural Intelligence
Key Insights:
- Respect for cultural norms enhances trust, fairness, and ethical trade
- Negotiations must consider FPIC, benefit-sharing, and community stewardship
- Cultural intelligence reduces risks of exploitation, misunderstanding, or conflict
Learning Activity:
- Workshop: Design a negotiation strategy that balances market objectives, ethics, and cultural etiquette
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
- Navigate regional differences in cultural and business etiquette
- Conduct negotiations that are ethical, respectful, and culturally sensitive
- Build long-term trust with stakeholders across Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Western markets
- Integrate negotiation etiquette with ethical, sustainable, and profitable trade strategies
Module Significance for Oud Academia / CI-ASASE
- Equips participants with practical intercultural negotiation skills
- Strengthens credibility and trust in international agarwood markets
- Complements modules on ethics, FPIC, benefit-sharing, and global market insights
- Supports ethical commercialization aligned with cultural and spiritual values
Suggested Next Steps / Extensions
- Conduct live negotiation simulations with real-world scenarios
- Develop region-specific etiquette manuals for traders and exporters
- Combine with modules on market valuation, ethical trade, and stewardship
- Offer assessment in cultural intelligence and negotiation strategy
If you want, I can now assemble all your modules—including ethics, stewardship, FPIC, Indigenous IPR, biopiracy, benefit-sharing, documentation, global markets, and cultural negotiation etiquette—into a single, fully integrated “Ethics, Heritage, and Market Stewardship of Agarwood” flagship curriculum with structured learning paths, assessments, and certification for CI-ASASE.
Do you want me to create that full integrated curriculum roadmap next?