German culture

German Culture

Facts About Germany

Germany is in central Europe, bordering Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark.It consists of 16 parts and the capital is Berlin (right), and it’s official name is Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

The Flag of Germany is Black, Red, gold horizontal stripes.

The population is 81,757,600 (around 81 million) in 2011, and the land mass is 357,021.7 square kilometers.

The Major religions are Protestant(34%), Roman Catholic(34%), Muslim(3.7%), unaffiliated or others (28.3%)

The national currency is the euro, and the main exports are: Automobiles, Chemicals, Electronics, Foodstuffs, Machinery and Equipment, metals, textiles.

Germany is in central Europe, bordering Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark.It consists of 16 parts and the capital is Berlin (right), and it’s official name is Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

The Flag of Germany is Black, Red, gold horizontal stripes.

The population is 81,757,600 (around 81 million) in 2011, and the land mass is 357,021.7 square kilometers.

The Major religions are Protestant(34%), Roman Catholic(34%), Muslim(3.7%), unaffiliated or others (28.3%)

The national currency is the euro, and the main exports are: Automobiles, Chemicals, Electronics, Foodstuffs, Machinery and Equipment, metals, textiles.

REGIONS & THEIR FLAGS

Even though Germany has one United flag, each region also has a flag to represent it’s self.

Even though Germany has one United flag, each region also has a flag to represent it’s self.

Baden-Wurttemberg

Bavaria Berlin BrandenburgBremen

Hamburg Hessen Mecklenburg Vorpommern

Lower Saxony Nordrhein Westfalen

Rheinland Pflaz Saarland Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Schleswig-Holstein

Thuringia

Geert Hofstede Analysis for Germany

Power Distancde Index

A decentralized society, with relatively flatter organization structures and a comparatively smaller proportion of supervisors

Co-determination rights are comparatively extensive and have to be taken into account by the management.

A direct and participative communication and meeting style is common.

Control is disliked and leadership is challenged to show expertise .

They have a large gap between the wealthy and the poor and a strong belief in equality for each citizen.

Individualism

Strong belief in self-actualization, self-determination and independence.

People stress on personal achievements and individual rights.

Loyalty is based on personal preferences for people as well as a sense of duty and responsibility.

Communication is among the most direct in the world following the ideal to be “honest, even if it hurts”

Masculinity

A masculine society where few married women work outside the home and men are the traditional “bread-winner”.

Greater importance are placed on earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge.

Success, money and material possessions form the dominant values in society.

Managers are expected to be decisive and assertive.

Social status is often shown, especially by cars, watches and technical devices.

The European Union’s largest economy; world’s top exporter; world’s leader in mechanical engineering; (according to CIA World Fact Book)

Uncertainty Avoidance Index

A planning culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day.

Details are equally important to create certainty that a certain topic or project is well-thought-out.

Germans dislike taking risks. By planning everything carefully they try to avoid the uncertainty and reduce its risks to the minimum.

German society relies much on rules, laws and regulations which allow people to know what is expected and to plan their life accordingly.

They seems to have a rule for everything. ( Example in Baden-Wurttemberg )

A planning culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day.

Details are equally important to create certainty that a certain topic or project is well-thought-out.

Germans dislike taking risks. By planning everything carefully they try to avoid the uncertainty and reduce its risks to the minimum.

German society relies much on rules, laws and regulations which allow people to know what is expected and to plan their life accordingly.

They seems to have a rule for everything. ( Example in Baden-Wurttemberg )

Long Term Orientation

Typical of westernised cultures with regards to having short-term orientation.

People from cultures where managers are expected to develop a closer, more intimate ambience can see the German manager-subordinate relationship as distant and cold.

Germans put truth and directness before diplomacy. This directness can be interpreted by certain cultures such as China, as rude.

Typical of westernised cultures with regards to having short-term orientation.

People from cultures where managers are expected to develop a closer, more intimate ambience can see the German manager-subordinate relationship as distant and cold.

Germans put truth and directness before diplomacy. This directness can be interpreted by certain cultures such as China, as rude.

Low Context Culture

• Truth and directness are two important aspects in business, therefore criticism and other strong comments are not considered as personal disapproval.

• Their communications are very explicit, they believe that they solve their problem by explicitly speaking up their thoughts.

• They tend to think before speaking and do not like to beat around the bush.

• As a result of their openness, confrontations among workers often happen for the sake of a better result.

• Truth and directness are two important aspects in business, therefore criticism and other strong comments are not considered as personal disapproval.

• Their communications are very explicit, they believe that they solve their problem by explicitly speaking up their thoughts.

• They tend to think before speaking and do not like to beat around the bush.

• As a result of their openness, confrontations among workers often happen for the sake of a better result.

Linear Time Culture

• Germans have a linear way of perceiving time. They usually prefer predictability over spontaneity.

• Being late, even if it is only by a few minutes, is very insulting to a German.

• Germany is renowned for its appreciation of efficiency. They have almost never been late for anything in their lives.

• Public Transport is almost always on time in German.

• Germans have a linear way of perceiving time. They usually prefer predictability over spontaneity.

• Being late, even if it is only by a few minutes, is very insulting to a German.

• Germany is renowned for its appreciation of efficiency. They have almost never been late for anything in their lives.

• Public Transport is almost always on time in German.

Guidelines for Interacting With Germans

A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

Eye contact during the introduction is serious, direct, and should be maintained as long as the person is addressing you.

Too much smiling and public gestures of affection are frowned upon, especially in the business culture.

Make sure you address your German counterparts in the correct manner.

A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

Eye contact during the introduction is serious, direct, and should be maintained as long as the person is addressing you.

Too much smiling and public gestures of affection are frowned upon, especially in the business culture.

Make sure you address your German counterparts in the correct manner.

Guidelines for Interacting With Germans

-Continued

“ Small talk” or “Idle chit-chat” is not part of the German culture.

Giving compliments is not part of German business protocol and usually causes only embarrassment or discomfort.

Germans can be very sensitive to criticism of themselves

Germans keep a larger personal space around them, approximately 6 inches more space than North Americans do.

Avoid silence while interacting with Germans.

“ Small talk” or “Idle chit-chat” is not part of the German culture.

Giving compliments is not part of German business protocol and usually causes only embarrassment or discomfort.

Germans can be very sensitive to criticism of themselves

Germans keep a larger personal space around them, approximately 6 inches more space than North Americans do.

Avoid silence while interacting with Germans.