Paco J

Cuesta

BELGIUM

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PSYCHOLOGY

BELGIUM corresponds to the faculty of estimatingprobabilities. It is the faculty which bases its conclusions in commercial, political and social transactions on the probable facts, where as it is often the case, the absolute conditions cannot be learned; and which attends to reach the probable truth in regard to a question when exact knowledge concerning is it not obtainable.

Psychology of the NationsA.L.Kip

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CULTURAL TYPES

Lewis Model

DIMENTIONS: POWER DISTANCE

Belgium scores high on the Pòwer Distance scale

• Inequalities are accepted

• Hierarchy is needed if not existential

• The superiors may have privileges and are often inaccessible

• The power is centralized

• The attitude towards managers is more formal and on family name basis

• Control is normal, and even expected, but considered as formal and not key for efficiency.

geert-hofstede.com

UAI

MAS

IDV

PDI

94

54

75

65

35

66

89

35

DIMENTIONS: INDIVIDUALISM

Belgium scores high on the individualistic index

• Favour individual and private opinions

• In the work environment, the relationship with work is contract based, the focus is on the task and autonomy is favoured

• The management is the management of individuals and the recognition of one‘s work is expected

• People can voice their opinion, but towards powerholders a less direct style is preferred than amongst peers.

geert-hofstede.com

UAI

MAS

IDV

PDI

94

54

75

65

35

66

89

35

DIMENTIONS: MASCULINITY

Belgium scores moderate on the Masculinity scale

• A confrontational, win-lose negotiating style (typical of the US and Anglo countries) will not be very effective

• This could mean that the decision process may be slower, as each point of view is considered so that consensus can be achieved

• Belgians strive towards reaching a compromise, winning a discussion is generally less important than achieving mutual agreement..

geert-hofstede.com

UAI

MAS

IDV

PDI

94

54

75

65

35

66

89

35

DIMENTIONS: UNCERTAINTY AV.

Belgium scores very high in the Uncertainty Avoidance index

• Certainty is often reached through academic work and concepts that can respond for the need of detail, context, and background

• Teachings and trainings are more inductive

• In management structure, rules and security are welcome and if lacking, it creates stress

• Planning is favoured

• Policies changes are considered stressful.

geert-hofstede.com

UAI

MAS

IDV

PDI

94

54

75

65

35

66

89

35

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

• Meetings are formal and appointments are necessary

• Everyone is expected to arrive on time

• First appointments are more socially than business oriented, as Belgians prefer to do business with those they know

• Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits with white shirts and silk ties and laced shoes well polished

• Women should wear business suits or conservative dresses

• Business set up is bureaucratic

• Manners are a must

Text: KwintessentialPhoto: wikimedia.org

MANAGEMENT

• The business set up in Belgium is hierarchical

• They adhere to established rules of protocol for most situations and expect others to do the same

• They are a private people: they do not mix their private and business lives

• The leader will be deferred to as the final authority in any decisions that are made, but they do not dominate the discussion or generation of ideas

• Is a controlled-time culture: adherence to schedules is expected

• Belgians are accustomed to centralized decision-making based upon information that has been gathered by all concerned parties

Text: KwintessentialPhoto: artycrafty.wordpress.com

MOTIVATING FACTORS

• Show a certain amount of conservatism with both Flemings and Walloons

• Show you know how to achieve solutions through compromise

• Adopt a gradualist approach to problems in general

• Demonstrate intellectual humility

• In most situations resolve things through common sense

• Show flexibility if deadlock threatens

• Avoid Too much dogma Criticizing the monarchy Direct confrontation Discussion of politics Any sign of temper / Being over-opinionated Discussion of religious or language issues

When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures, by Richard D. Lewis

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BELGIUM

“It is the brain, the little grey cells on which one must rely.

One must seek the truth within--not without.“ ~ Poirot”

― Agatha Christie