Austria presentation

AUSTRIA  Educate  the  Expatriate  

GMBA  5885  –  Cross-­‐Cultural  Advanced  Seminar  

Richa  Bajwa  –  Ludovic  Bourgoin  December  14th,  2010  

COUNTRY  FACTS  

COUNTRY  FACTS  Population: 8 million

COUNTRY  FACTS  Population: 8 million

COUNTRY  FACTS  

•  Official  name:  Republic  of  Austria  •  Capital:  Vienna  •  Official  language:  Austrian  German  

•  Government:  Federal  Parliamentary  Republic  

•  Independance:  Post-­‐WWII  in  1955  

•  Ethnic  groups:  »  Austrians  92%  »  Former  Yougoslavs  5%  »  Turks  2%  »  German  1%  

Population: 8 million

COUNTRY  FACTS  

•  DeclaraCon  of  Neutrality  – Declaring  the  country  neutral  – Enacted  on  26  of  October  1955  – Part  of  the  consVtuVon  of  Austria  

COUNTRY  FACTS  

•  FORMALLY    declaraVon  promulgated  voluntarily  by  the  Republic  of  Austria.  

•  POLITICALLY    was  the  direct  consequence  of  the  allied  occupaVon  between  1945  and  1955:  

PEOPLE  FACTS  

Do  you  know  some  Austrian  celebrity…?    

PEOPLE  FACTS  

Do  you  know  some  Austrian  celebrity…?    

PEOPLE  FACTS  

Do  you  know  some  Austrian  celebrity…?    

PEOPLE  FACTS  

•  ConservaVsm  »  Austrians  are  prudent  and  moderate  

»  Social  invitaVons  must  be  made  in  advance  

•  The  Austrian  home  »  Austrians  take  much  pride  in  their  homes  »  Only  close  friends  and  relaVves  are  invited  into  the  house  »  Neightboorly  eVque]e  has  its  rules  (cleaned  corridors…)  

HOFSTEDE’s  

1.  Low  power  distance  •  Austrian  subway  system  

2.  IndividualisVc  society  •  Desire  for  personnal  freedom  

•  Preference  for  personal  well-­‐being  

3.  Masculinity  79  •  AsserVve  desire  for  control  

4.  High  uncertainty  avoidance  

Cultural  dimensions  

NAMES  &  GREETINGS  

•  Shake  hands  women  1st  

•  Hand-­‐kiss  to  women  Don’t  if  you’re  not  Austrian!  

Foreign  Minister  Karel  Scharzenberg  from  Czech  Republic,  kisses  the  hand  of  Autrian  Foreifn  Minister  Ursula  Plassnik,  2008  

COMMUNICATION  STYLE  

•  Official  language  is  German  »  Different  pronunciaVon  »  Different  vocabulary  

=  Problem  for  foreigners  who  were  taught  proper  german  

Speak  some  English,  but  interpreter  recommended  

COMMUNICATION  STYLE  

•  Use  of  English  » Make  it  short  

»  Simple  phrase  

»  Speak  slowly  

•  DiplomaVc  style  preferred  

•  Saying  NO  is  ok  

•  Rare  use  of  body  language  

RELIGION  

DRESS  &  APPEARANCE  

Austrian traditional clothes

DRESS  &  APPEARANCE  

•  Appearances  ma]er  »  PresentaVon  and  dressing  are  very  important  

»  Clothes  are  never  ostentaVous  »  SomeVmes  strict  protocol  for  dressing  apprpriately  

»  Some  high  level  events  may  have  dress  code  

» Women  dress  elegantly  in  public/at  work  

ENTERTAINING  

•  Family  •  Friends  at  the  pub!    

•  Watching  television  

•  Going  to  the  restaurant  

•  Sport:  Ski,  bicycle  ride…  

•  Expect  everyone  to  speak  English  •  Expect  to  find  diet  drinks  and  non-­‐smoking  areas  

•  Make  noise  amer  10pm  

•  Give  perfume  or  clothing  as  gims  

•  Kiss  the  hand  of  an  Austrian  woman  unless  you  are  Austrian!  

•  Be  late!    

DON’T…  

GOVERNMENT  &  BUSINESS  

•  Member  of  EU  

•  Austrian  Business  Agency  (ABA)  Supports  &  provides  incenVves  for  foreign  investors  

Free movement of goods, people and capital

WORK  ENVIRONMENT  

•  Formal  dress  code  for  business  »  Navy  blue  or  black  suits  »  NeckVes  »  Dresses  accepted  for  women  

»  Polished  shoes  

•  First  impression  ma]ers!  Significant  impact  on  others  opinion  

WOMEN  IN  BUSINESS  

•  Hard  to  get  similar  posiVons/income  as  men  

•  AccepVng  old-­‐fashioned  courtesies  

•  Too  much  confidence  might  appear  aggressive!    Reminder:  High  Masculinity!  

DECISION  MAKING  

•  Hierarchy  People  expect  to    to  work  with  clear  lines  of  authority!  

•  Methodical  process  Conducted  with  precision  »  Takes  much  Vme  »  Requires  paVence  

•  Change  is  hard  to  implement  Reminder:  high  level  of  uncertainty  avoidance  

BUILDING  RELATIONSHIPS  

•  Not  an  essenVal  aspect  for  iniVal  business  interacVons  know  you  be]er  gradually  

•  Business  relaVons  exist  between          companies  as  well  as  between  

       individuals.    

NEGOTIATIONS  &  MEETINGS  

•  NegoVaVon  is  a  joint  problem-­‐solving  process  in  Austria        

         buyer  being  superior  

•  NegoVaVon  style  is  cooperaVve              people  may  be  unwilling  to  agree  with  compromises  •  work  through  a  list  of  objecVves,  bargaining  for  each  item  separately  

             they  do  not  revisit  aspects  already  discussed  

•  Be  calm  and  paVent              avoid  open  confrontaVon  

TIME…  

•  Pursue  acVons  and  goals  systemaVcally  

•  Punctuality  is  appreciated                                  call  with  an  explanaVon  for  delay  

•  Do  not  cancel  a  meeVng  at  last  minute.  •  No  small  talk  before  the  meeVng                                                  gets  to  business  ma]ers  right  away  

THANK  You  !  & Happy Christmas Holidays ;)

home made Christmas Crib!