■Indonesian Society and Culture

◆ Diversity

◇Indonesia is a enormously diverse nation.

◇It is composed of over 17,500 islands (6??000 of which are inhabited) which are populated by over 300 ethnic groups.

◇Each province has its own distinct language, ethnic make-up, religions and history.

◇Most people will define themselves locally before nationally.

◇Moreover, there are many cultural influences originating back from difference in heritage. Indonesians are a mix of Chinese, European, Indian, and Malay.

◇Although Indonesia has the most Muslims in the world, there are also a large number of Christian Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists.

◇Due to this great diversity a great deal of attention is needed from the government to maintain a cohesion.

◇Consequently the national motto is “Unity in Diversity”. For example, the language has been standardized and a national philosophy has been conceived known as “Pancasila” which emphasizes universal justice for all Indonesians.

◇Because of the diverse nature of Indonesian society there is a strong pull towards the group, whether family, village or island.

◇People will be defined according to their ethnic group, family and birthplace.

◇The family has very traditional structure.

◇Family members have clearly defined roles and a great sense of interdependence.

■Hierarchy

◇As with most group-orientated cultures, hierarchy is very important in Indonesian culture.

◇Hierarchical relationships are revered, stressed and maintained.

◇Show respect to those with status, power, position, and age.

◇As a result, the most senior is expected to make group decisions in both the village and the office.

◇People of higher ranks are often called “bapak” or “ibu”, which is equivalent to father or mother, sir or madam.

◇Indonesians advocate group discussion and consensus, although those with the most authority make decisions, This is attributed to the idea of maintaining strong group cohesiveness and harmonious relationships.

■Face

◇Because of the need to maintain group harmony it is important to understand the concept of “face”.

◇In Indonesia the concept is concerned with avoiding the cause of shame (“malu”).

◇As a result, people are very cautious about the way in which they interact and speak.

◇Although a foreigner can not be expected to understand the minor differences of the concept, it is very important to pay more attention to one’s behavior.

◇One should never laugh at, shout at or insult anyone. Shortcomings should always be hidden and addresses privately. Similarly never blame any individual/group publicly.

◇One reflection of the concept of face/shame is that Indonesians express their ideas quite indirectly, i.e. they would never wish to cause anyone to feel shameful by answering them negatively so would express it a way where you would be able to understand what they truly want to say.

◇Bahasa Indonesian actually has 12 ways of giving a negative answer and several other ways of saying “Yes” when the actual meaning is “No”!

■General Etiquette Guidelines

◆ Meeting and Greeting

◇As Greetings are intended to show respect they can be rather formal.

◇The most common greeting is a handshake, which is accompanied with the word “Selamat”.

◇Many Indonesians may slightly bow or put their hands on their heart after shaking your hand.

◇If you are being introduced to several people, always begin with the eldest or most senior person first.

◇Titles are important in Indonesia as they represent status. If you know any titles make sure you use them together with the name.

◇Some Indonesians have only one name, although it is becoming more prevalent for people to have a first name and a surname, especially in the middle class.

◇Many Indonesians, especially those from Java, may have had a quite long name, which was abbreviated to a sort of nickname for daily communication.

◇In Indonesia there are several ethnic groups. Most have used Indonesian names over the years, while some maintain the naming traditions of their ethnicity.

◆ Gift Giving Etiquette

Gift giving etiquette in Indonesia is largely determined by the ethnicity of the recipient. Some general gift giving guidelines are as follows:

Gift Giving Etiquette for the Chinese:

◇It is regarded polite to verbally decline a gift before accepting it, which shows that the receiver is not greedy.

◇Never send scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they signal that you want to end the relationship.

◇Elaborate wrapping is admired—gold and red are considered lucky.

◇Gifts are not opened when received.

Gift Giving Etiquette for Ethnic Malays/Muslims:

◇In Islam alcohol is prohibited. Only send alcohol if you know the receiver will appreciate it.

◇Any food substance should be “halal”, which refers to anything without alcoholic ingredients or anything without pork derivatives such as gelatine. Halal meat means the animal has been slaughtered according to Islamic principles.

◇Use the right hand only offering presents.

◇Gifts are not opened when received.

Gift Giving Etiquette for Ethnic Indians:

◇Use the right hand only to offer gifts.

◇Gifts are wrapped in red, yellow or green paper or other bright colors as these bring good luck.

◇Do not send leather presents to a Hindu.

◇Do not send alcohol unless you are sure the receiver drinks.

◇Gifts are not opened when received.

◆ Dinning Etiquette and Table Manners

Dining etiquette is usually not rigid but depends on the surroundings and context. The more formal the occasion the more formal the behavior is. Here are some basic dining etiquette tips that you can follow.

◇As a guest you will have a specific position, so wait to be guided to your seat.

◇Food is often taken from a communal dish in the middle. You will be served the food and it would not be regarded impolite if you helped yourself after that.

◇If it is a buffet then the guest is usually asked to help themselves first. It is regarded courteous that the guest insist others go before him/her but this would never happen.

◇In formal situations, serve men before women.

◇Wait to be asked to eat before you start.

◇Usually the only utensils at the place setting are a fork and spoon. Depending on the situation some people may use their hands.

◇Use your right hand to eat or pass food.

■Business Etiquette and Protocol

◆ Business Cards

◇Normally exchange business cards after the initial handshake and greeting.

◇Business cards should exhibit your title, which helps improve your image and credibility.

◇Having one side of your card translated in Bahasa shows respect, although not required.

◇Use two hands or the right hand to give/accept cards.

◇Look over a business card you receive carefully before placing it on the table next to you or in a card case.

◇It is important to deal with business cards with respect.

◆ What to Wear?

◇Business dress is usually conservative.

◇Women should dress conservatively making sure that they are well covered from ankle to neck. Do not wear tight fitting clothes.

◇It is hot, so it is best to wear cotton or at least light clothing.

◆ Communication Styles

◇Indonesians usually communicate indirectly, which means they do not always say what they mean. The listener ought to read what is implied or pay attention to gestures and body language to get the real message.

◇In general, Indonesians speak in a low voice and with a soft tone. Loud people would be considered slightly aggressive.Business is personal in Indonesia to spend time building a strong relationship through communication. The only effective way of conducting business is to communicating with someone face-to-face.

◇Indonesians do not like confrontation because of the potential loss of face. To be courteous, they may say what they think you want to hear. If you insult them, they will hide their feelings and maintain a veil of politeness. If an Indonesian begins to avoid you or behaves in an unfriendly way towards you, there is a serious problem.

◆ Business Meetings

◇The main purpose of initial meetings is to get to know each other. If business is not even discussed do not be surprised.

◇Usually Indonesians enter the meeting-room according to rank. Doing so would create a good impression, although you do not have to do this.

◇Indonesians do not make fast decisions because they might be regarded as not having considered the matter fully. Be prepared to keep patient.

◇“Jam Karet” (rubber time) describes the Indonesian attitude towards time. They will not rush to do anything as the attitude is that everything has its time and place. Time does not bring money while good relations and harmony do.

◇When negotiating, never use pressure techniques as they are likely to produce the opposite result.