The Germany Market and Culture

Résumé du document

There are 197 countries all over the world that is to say more than 197 cultures that make our world. In the world of today, and with globalization, we have to travel more, and also have to make more business with all these countries. But every culture and every country is different and behave in a different way. To do business, we have to know everything about the country we would like to enter or to have business with. There are many determinants that constitute culture such as the political philosophy, what will reflect a population's decision on subjects such as democracy or totalitarian and it will also show the rights attributed to a whole society, the economic philosophy that shows if the country's economy is as a free market or as a centrally planned one, the religion which will have impact on the society's attitude in business, the education, the languages. With all these determinants, the culture is made in every country, leading different ways. So, what should we know about these determinants, and particularly what are their impacts on a specific country like Germany?

Extraits

[...] For example, in Germany this indicator is low what means that the society is de-emphasizing the differences between the population's power and wealth, to play down such inequalities as much as possible. Individualism: it focuses on the degree the society reinforces individual or collective, achievement and inter-personal relationships. In Germany, this level is high what indicates that individuality and individual rights are essential within the society. Masculinity: this factor focuses on the degree the society reinforces or does not reinforce the traditional masculine work role model of mal achievement, control and power. [...]

[...] The rank in a German company is really important and has to be respect. For example, never set up an appointment for an employee that has a lower rank to meet a higher rank employee. You have to take this appointment with the person herself or with someone higher ranked. The second important determinant factor in Germany will be the time orientation. In fact, Germans are very punctual and it is considered as a key for business. The punctuality in Germany is an essential point. [...]

[...] As in Japan the education comes from a long tradition of respect. In Japan, universities graduate many more engineers per capita than in the US. By this way, it shows why education system is an important factor explaining a country's economic success. Another example is the number of companies that came to India due to the presence of significant numbers of trained engineers in India which is the result of the education in India. The legal and political environment in a country reflects its cultures as they belong to the norms of this country. [...]

[...] For example, men should wear suits, always in dark colours, and ties. For women, it is important to wear dresses, suits, skirts and blouses, still in dark colours. Within business, you do not have to be surprised with you see a fashion statement wearing a dark suits with white socks. In the world of German business, negotiation is constant, within clients, suppliers, colleagues and supervisors. Here are some points to follow to become a successful business partner that know how to build freedom in discussions. [...]

[...] German is not spontaneous. In that way, decision making will always take along time to reach the point as they like things to be well done and results to be structured. The fact of being punctual make Germans be a monochromic country, that is to say that they like when things are done one after another. For them, time is lineal, segmented and manageable. Like something you must not waste. That is why it can be difficult for Spanish companies to make business with Germany. [...]