German Business - Wrinkles and Debate

German Business – Wrinkles and Debate

Are German business executives more likely to frown than to smile? Will an international business meeting with Germany turn into a debate? When negotiating with Germany, you must first understand the cultural characteristics that make them so serious and so successful.

Germany emerged as the European leader in driving growth. Some countries have achieved many things in the field of international business. There are companies that avoid Germans believing them too suddenly; too possible to argue; and too skeptical. Some consider other European countries to be friendlier and easier to do business.

Perception is not necessarily reality

A smile is overvalued. For more than five years, I worked for German executives. They are excellent negotiators and outstanding drivers of international business. With a better understanding, the cultural issues behind German business behavior, meetings, relationships and opportunities will increase.

Here are some concepts of German business culture:

Germany remains on schedule. This is a culture that is disturbed when the train is one minute late. Timeliness is in their DNA. Meetings will begin and end on time, no matter how sudden it might appear;

The German business expression is, “Dienst ist Dienst und Schnapps ist Schnapps,” or work is work and drink is drink. In other words, there is a clear line between German business executives and personal life. Some small talk creeps up on their personal discomfort, so they tend to reduce it;

Most German executives have a high sense of humor

After laughing, their smiles quickly faded. Sitting in public with a grin on your face looks strange, like there are several types of mental problems. This is a common trait in many European countries, not only Deutschland;

Germany asks a lot of direct questions, and emerges quickly to enter business debates. In Germany, questions and debates tend to …

German Business – Wrinkles and Debate Read More
Foreign Market Extortion and Regulations Considered - It's a Part of Doing Business

Foreign Market Extortion and Regulations Considered – It’s a Part of Doing Business

If you do international business for any length of time eventually you get into a pickle with bribes, kick-back requests, extortion, or regulatory fines all based on and originating due to domestic competition and crony capitalism. Yes, I know it’s amazing the shenanigans that go on in the US sometimes, and if you are na?ve and think it doesn’t happen here too with our own government regulators, lobbyists, politicians, and cut-throat competition, then I bet I can tell you who you voted for in the last presidential election, and whose bumper sticker you’ll be toting around this time again. Okay so, let’s talk shall we?

Even with all that goes on in the US

it’s a far better cry than doing business as an American company in a foreign nation. But, rather than me just complain about the issue, let’s turn this into a class show-and-tell case study for you, as I don’t want anyone emailing me and telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about here today.

Okay so, on June 15, 2012 their time

China Economic Review had a rather interesting article pretty much admitting the reality of the challenges that US firms have doing business in the country. The Economic Review of China indicated that the government regulators have slapped a large US retailer with another fine of over a half a million dollars and made an example of them in their media. Claiming that;

“Government agencies say the retailer sells sesame oil containing benzopyrene and illegal high-level squid with dangerous cadmium levels. The chemical is a carcinogen and is considered dangerous to human health. The accusation came as part of China’s annual food security week, when the government usually accuses foreign companies of violating regulations. “

Last year

the same US company was hit by …

Foreign Market Extortion and Regulations Considered – It’s a Part of Doing Business Read More