A U$.$S$.$ executive had no idea that the Japanese go through a very elaborate ritual when exchanging business cards. When he arrived at a meeting in Tokyo, he sat down and tossed some of his business cards across the table at a group of stunned Japanese businesspeople. Due to the U$.$S$.$ executive's rudeness, the multimillion dollar deal failed. The U$.$S$.$ executive overlooked the importance of which environmental factor?

demographic

culture

natural resources

political structure