Cross-CULTURAL international management – GERMANY (1 day)

 

professional environment and values

1.    Background of German companies
•    Deutschland, Mittelstand: the economic fabric of medium-size companies
•    Large German groups
•    Rhineland model and stakeholders capitalism
•    Is co-decision a model for success?
•    Social system and labour law

2.    Cultural tendencies in the workplace
•    Democracy = equality? The role of hierarchy and equality at the beginning of the 21st century
•    Distrust of the unknown and need for certainty
•    Vorsprung durch Technik: in search of perfection

 

Communicating effectively

3.    German relational methods
•    High context vs. low context: the need for accuracy
•    The German language: complexity, accuracy – a reflection of German cultural preferences?
•    Use of the language: factual and explicit, clear and direct, an effective communication and negotiation tool

4.    At the workplace
•    The linguistic challenge: whether to speak French, German, a mix of French and English or a mix of German and English?  Possible misunderstandings
•    Non-verbal communication and professionalism

 

Managing teams and projects

 

5.    Management practices and tools
•    Live to work or work to live? Different approaches
•    Punctuality, accuracy, effectiveness: the importance of schedules and planners
•    Should rules and procedures always be applied?
•    Hierarchy and authority: who is responsible and why?
•    The German manager: what skills are required?
•    Project organisation and design: long-term planning

6.    Operational applications
•    Advice when starting a job
•    Action plan