# data[].attributes.body
Goal:

reduce complexities and provide behavioural guidance to better understand cultural differences in business context

Definition:

Shared standards and values within cultures and its individuals

Provides a framework to set up guidelines for individuum’s behaviour

Element to measure the own and others behaviour

To disclose differences

Definition what is normal, typical and acceptable

German Culture Standards

1.     Objectivism

Definition

-       Goal-oriented

-       Well-prepared for discussions with arguments & facts

-       Objectivism is part of German “professionalism”

-       Agreements and rules should be written down to count for the Germans

-       Relationships aren’t of primary importance

-       First priority: reaching the aim

-       Germans work on task level, social-emotional level is secondarily

-       Good social-emotional relation, when people cooperate well to achieve goal

-       Communication is fact-based with focus on goal --> direct communication

Limits of Objectivism

-       Suffering of personal relationships

-       Decisions are made to reach the best for the objective --> no consideration of the individuum’s well-being

-       Focusing on the aim and tasks can conceal a hidden-agenda

-       Hidden emotions make it difficult for others to understand their real motivation

Approaches:

-       Keep the social-emotional level in mind, especially the individuum’s well-Being

Historical Background

-       Protestantism: the religion ceremonies became less emotional and irrational

-       Religion justified more intellectual --> searching for understandings

-       Lutheran differed two life-spheres that led to task-orientations & richness of spirit

-       Several semi-sovereign states made it easier to focus on goals --> building relationships was difficult because of the distances

-       Absolutism as result of bureaucracy:

o  Focused on regulation of business and settlements, not on people

o  Military and middle class brought task-orientation into broader society

-       After 1945: main goal of economy: profit maximisation

2.     Appreciation for rules regulations and structures

Definition

-       Germans known for their numerous laws, regulations, rules
-       Provision of a clear structure

-       Strict observance of the rules and clear consequences of non-compliance

-       Increase work effectiveness by avoiding errors and misunderstanding

-       Long-term planning most ideal approach

-       Proven structure kept and used again

-       Desire for perfection

Limits

-       Danger of loss of flexibility if plans are not working

-       Prevention of cooperation

-       Danger of arrogant appearance by never questioning Germans’ structures and processes.

Approaches

-       Explain what is important and why

--> Do not take German approaches for granted

-       Be open for new structures when it comes to international business

Historical Background

-       Structures and Models have already been existing in the past and made their way through the history

-       In Greece: Social life was governed by laws, definitions of ethical and judicial standards. The ideas of equality behind the Greek standards also taken by Roman law.

-       In Rome: Concepts of equality and citizenships defined the cohabitation

-       In Rome clearly defined laws were really important and this principles were later adopted by the emerging church and by European states.

-       These laws and structures were also adopted by Christians and were introduced to the German area.

-       In history a lot of bad events like social desolation, crisis, inflation appeared. These events led to an intensified need and desire of more stability and order.

3.     Rule oriented, Internalized Control

Definition

-       Rules are binding for all people without distinguishing between social and political attitudes

-       Formal and informal rules are defining what is “good” and “bad” and are “for the best”
-       Control means increase of reliability, effectiveness,

-       Rules are becoming some kind of personality

--> Duty comes before pleasure and completion of tasks has highest priority

-       Rule orientation and independence are internalized in childhood

-       Admission of errors, trustworthiness and respect are important moral values of rule orientation and control

-       Importance of same standards among people ensuring fairness and justice

Limits

-       Danger: Too much work-orientation
--> loss of work-life-balance and relationships

--> leading to the impression that Germans are not interested in communicating
-       No interest in compromises and therefore stubbornness

-       Impression of German arrogance “German way seems to be right”

-       Desire of consensus become a problem when coming to a decision

Approach

-       Germans need to understand the importance of relationships for other cultures and try to reduce their authoritarian behavior
-       When introducing plans or following structures always explain why it is important and communicate openly

-       Take other opportunities and ideas seriously and into account

Historical Background

-       In Rome: law was above relationships (families and clans) to ensure fairness, clarity and consistency

-       In Roman times: Contracts already played an important role

-       The Jews: God-given social laws that needed to be accepted and followed

-       Military models such as duty, discipline and obedience

-       Lutheranism: giving conscience and dutifulness an important role

-       Protestantism: Individuals must fulfill their duties and tasks for the common good

-       Today: obedience is no longer existing, but discipline is very important.

4.     Time Planning

Definition

-       Time Planning, Schedules and diaries without taking detours are very important for Germans

-       When it comes to time Germans are very inflexible as time is a valuable asset

-       Long-term planning means a detailed process - planning step by step in a straight line

-       Always focusing and finishing what they started, avoid multi-tasking
-       Appointments in the job as well for social life are very important

-       Spontaneity is considered unsuitable and annoying

-       Quickly getting to the point without a long warm-up phase or small talk

-       Time management is necessary and essential for professionalism

-       Time plans are often arranged

Limits

-       Every part of their plan is interlinked  --> Decrease of flexibility

-       Restriction of Social life

Approach

-       Do not try to set punctuality as granted
-       Help others with managing their time by using reminders and explain time pressure

-       Try to have time for other non-work-related tasks, otherwise you will be perceived as being not interested in other peoples’ life.

Historical Background

-       States demanded regulation of the daily routines

--> Life depended on structuring the time

-       Protestantism also supported the thinking of time lines, as people were responsible for their actions and outcomes
--> Justifying their life and the paths they have chosen

-       “Time on earth is short”

-       Industrialization supported idea of time management

5.     Separation of Personality and Living Spheres

Definition

-       Strict divisions between following fundamentals:

o   Professional – private

o   Rational – emotional

o   Role – person

o   Formal – informal

-       Germans are self-assured in their professional roles àoften seen as arrogant

-       Different behavior in interactions depending on distance (stranger, colleague, an acquaintance, close friend)

Limits

-       Hard on people without possibility for compensation (family “nest”)

-       When differentiation is too extreme, the authenticity and integrity of one person can suffer

-       Due to the goal-orientation, the interfaces and overlaps to other tasks can fall into oblivion

Approach

-       Germans could be more open-minded to other people and to relationships

-       Combining their private and working life

Historical background

-       Boundaries of territorial fragmentation become boundaries of the mind

-       Differentiation between strangers and friends were a result of political circumstances

-       Peak in Biedermeier period and the Restoration àidealism and romanticism: refreshment of heart, mind and soul in private life

-       Protestantism: distinction between private and religious inwardness and public world or social formalities

-       Collapse of the Third Reich: expression of humiliation, attempt to cope with events

--> retreat into security of privacy and small ground instead of public

6.     Low Context: the German Style of Communication

Definition

-       Very explicit and direct communication style

-       Fully, clear, unambiguous formulation of context

-       “what” is in the foreground

-       No consideration of personal sensibilities

-       Everything is said àno hidden signals

-       Germans are seen very confrontational and unafraid of conflict

Limits

-       Discussions are complete, explicit, detailed and lengthy

-       Direct and undiplomatic communication can be hurtful

-       It isn’t common to use humor in daily communication

Approach

-       Germans should consider the others feelings

-       Take a look at the background

-       Don’t be too confrontational

Historical background

-       European logic is either-or-logic

-       Cognition aims to objectivize the fact and put it in context

-       Christians became intolerant of other belief systems

-       Christians search for the truth and biblical command to conquer the earth --> rational thinking

-       Many small states lead to explicit and direct communication, because they didn't have common reference points

-       The 1968 movement brought radical openness, discussion and conflict through the country --> be critical and skeptical, learn to question

7.     Individualism

Definition

-       Focus on the person as an individuum

-       Personal independence and self-sufficiency are highly regarded

-       Primary identity: personal identity

-       Every individuum is unique, has its own goals and history --> has to take responsibility for his or her own life

-       Individualism ¹egoism

-       Connection to moral basis of the legal system and the direct style of communication

Limits

-       Individualism stresses dignity and integrity of each person

-       Border is where interests end and the interest of another begins --> rules, rights, contracts

Approach

-       Germans should keep the others interests in mind

-       In some cases, the individual goal is easier to achieve when collaborating

Historical background

-       Individualism is the flipside of Jewish monotheism --> exclusiveness (one God)

-       Christianity: Jesus as role model for all believers, giving them their unique, personal relationship with God and challenge them to live their life like Jesus lived his

-       Nowadays: nuclear families, single-life-style, financial independence --> Individualism