Order, Nature & Work

A short introduction to the German lifestyle

© Michaela Strobel

Overwiev

1.) General information

2.) Business Tips according to the book „Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands“ by Terri Morisson

3.) Analysis based on Hofstedes 5 cultural criteria

4.) Analysis based on Hall‘s criteria

5.) Sources

Location

• Federal Republic16 “Länder”

• Capital:Berlin

• Inhabitants: ~ 82 Mio

Government

• President = Chief of the state• Chancellor = Head of government

• Parties: CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, Grüne, Linke, …

History

• Proud of having never been conquered by the Romans

• Still has to deal with the developpement of the former GDR

• National socialistic past is a big issue

Economy

• Reputation of high quality products

• Germans don‘t like to share information

• Restrictive laws & high taxes Foreign investors hesitate

Business Tips• Invitation to private homes is an honor

• Gifts: – no German wine or any beer– Flowers, Music from your country

• Topics: – Sports, Education &Politics – No personal questions

• Negotiation: – Directness, no exaggeration– Trade fairs

• Dress: – Discreet & conservative

Hofstede‘s Criteria

IDV MAS UAI PDI LTO

GermanyWorld

IDV - IndividualismLow High

Wide latitude for private individual behaviour

Individuality

Personal life unquestioned

Friendships highly selective

Individual Responsibility to follow the rules

Decisions in references to larger units

MAS - MasculinityData & Facts

Emotional involvement unacceptable

direct, when something is bad

Compromises = personal failure

Women are often denigrated

Women get payed less

PDI – Power Distance Index

Business leaders tend to come from upper class

BUT: Education is considered very important

Use title & Last Name when adressing

Hallo, Herr Dr. Müller

never say „Fräulein“(= Miss)

Hallo, Fräulein Müller

Eldest enters the room first

UAI – Uncertainty Avoidence Index

Insurance (household, travel, unemployment,...)

Written and unwritten rules for everything

Decision-making is methodical

Once a decision is made, it is considered final

LTO – Long-term orientation

Long Short

Sceptisism about future

near-time issues

Sudden changes are unwellcome

Hall‘s criteria

Merci pour votre attention

© Michaela Strobel

Des questions?

Sources • Kiss, bow, or shake hands: The bestselling guide to

doing business in more than 600 countries; Terri Morrison

• International Management: Cross Boundary Challenges; R. F. Wondrak, Paul N. Gooderham Odd Nordhaug

• http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/power-distance-index/

• http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/germany.htm

• http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_germany.shtml

• http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/germany-country-profile.html