Multiculturalism of global economy: challenges and issues for modern engineers

Abstract

The fabric of world economy is changing, with China and India emerging as the main contenders for “largest economy” status. The issue of free trade in developed economies has become contentious enough to be a point of discussion in UK, US and French elections where the voters are demanding protectionism. Regionalism among developed nations is on the rise. At this point it is wise for all Asian countries to look for business partners in their own region. India, with its booming economy is a serious prospect as a business partner for Malaysian organizations. This is evident from recent influx in the flow of investments between India and Malaysia. This increases the probability of Malay engineers working for either Indian firms in Malaysia or for Malaysian firms in India. In this context it is advantageous for engineering graduates of both countries to be aware of each others culture, its similarities and its differences. This paper attempts to create awareness for 21st century Malaysian engineers about Indian corporate culture. It intends to highlight both similarities and differences between the two cultures in order to facilitate engineers from Malaysia to be successful in their endeavor to work in an intercultural environment.