How quality measures differ from culture to culture

Do all people measure and perceive quality with the same standards worldwide? Do the words “excellent, clean, great, hardworking, etc”, have the same level of standards worldwide? I have been travelling for the last six months through several countries for business and pleasure. At each new place I visit, I like to observe how people really measure quality, can the world agree on one standard for quality? Do we all have the same comfort levels? Does the phrase “clean and quite”; has the same level of expectation in Houston, in Dubai and in Mumbai?

The world came to agreement on certain standard levels in manufacturing, science, medicine and engineering. While traveling, I also noticed that most airlines are adopting global standards for for service and comfort for their passengers.
But at more cultural and local levels, people still differ widely on their definition of quality. It was hard for me to explain to my guide in India what I meant when I said I want “clean and quite hotel”. He assured me several times that the hotel he booked for me is very clean and in nice and quite area. Big surprise was waiting for me when I arrived in Mumbai and saw the so called “quite and clean hotel.” The hotel was located in one of the most crowded and noisy part of the city, no phone in the room, no amenities in the bathroom,…etc.

This experience got me thinking really hard about the cross-cultural communication issues, my host was genuine when he said he booked me nice and clean hotel, but he was not able to envision my idea of “clean and quite.”
I think it’s impossible to create global quality standards where people from various cultures and backgrounds can agree on one standard of “quality”, we can always create standards in manufacturing, science and engineering, but when it comes to more personal standards and preferences, it’s almost impossible to create one standard or several standards of what people would perceive as “quality.”

So how we tackle this issue? How global managers travelling the world can create awareness within themselves and within their staff about the importance of understanding other cultures.
I have gone over this issue in several of my articles, its very crucial to understand the cultural sensitivity involved when you work abroad, it may lead to smooth business relation or it can end your business relation.
What are the best business and personal practices to use when working abroad? I started to think now…….