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