|

 

u
   
  
 
   (34%), 
  
(34%), 
(3.7%), unaffiliated or

    other (28.3%)

à
 "  

Head of State
‡ Federal President: 
‡ Head of Government: Chancellor
 

; English is widely spoken
throughout the population.
  137,926 sq. miles (357,092 sq.km)


   82,4 million (2007)
u 
‡  
 About 8.8% of the #
 to the North;
population are of foreign origin. Netherlands,  
, "$

and   to the West;
The largest groups are from: %& '  and Austria to the South;
‡ ! (2.4%) ' 
  and   to the
‡  (Serbo-Croatian, Italian, East.
Russian) (6.1%)
à 

  


   

The Geert Hofstede analysis for Germany
shows their emphasis on individualism,
masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance.

Power distance and long-term orientation are

both ranked considerably lower than the
others. This illustrates Germany¶s belief in
equality and opportunity for each citizen, as
well as its ability to change and adapt
rapidly.
   
Ôen will be wearing suits and   
and women will be wearing dresses.
Ôake sure to also dress your part.

Women should also avoid excessively

ornate jewelry or displaying items of
conspicuous wealth, especially in
the former East Germany.

If a suit is in place then choose a

darker color one such as dark gray
or dark navy blue.

Lighter color are typically out of place

for evening attire.
  

Always use last names and
appropriate titles.
Firm, brief handshakes are the norm
when doing business in
Germany. When several people
are being introduced take turns to
greet each other rather than
reaching over someone else's
hands.
Avoid shaking hands with one hand
in your pocket.
When women enter a room it is
considered polite for men to
stand.
Business meetings follow a formal
procedure. German managers
work from precise and detailed
agendas, which are usually
followed rigorously.
   

‡ Take plenty of business

cards with you and
ensure they include full
details of your
background,
qualifications, and titles.


 

Ôake your appointments well in
advance. [Ôaking
appointments for a more
detailed telephone
conversation is also not
unusual].
Give at least one or two weeks
notice for an appointment
made by telephone; allow at
least a month for an
appointment made by mail. If
you don't have much
preparation time, it's
sometimes possible to arrange
for a brief, introductory
meeting within a few days'
notice.
   

Punctuality is a serious
issue, Germans
plans their time very
carefully.
It is considered
disrespectful to be
late or early at the
business
appointments.
#  (

The acceptable width of

personal space varies
between cultures, and
because a violation of
this personal space can
have seriously adverse
effects on
communication, it is
important that you learn
to respect the distance
zones that are
maintained by Germans.
  
Normal working hours: 09.00am -
05.00pm

The preferred times for business

appointments are between 10:00
a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or between 3:00
p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Avoid scheduling appointments on

Friday afternoons, as some offices
close by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. on
Fridays.

Casually changing the time and place of

an appointment is not appreciated.
Allow for at least 24 hrs, if you can,
to change or cancel appointments.
Be prepared to offer a plausible
explanation.
 !
)  

Giving compliments is not part of German business

protocol and can often cause embarrassment and
awkwardness.
Compliments, especially from strangers or very casual
acquaintances can, in fact, be taken with suspicion
[³What does he/she really mean to say or want?´].
 A
!
)  

Sports, particularly soccer

Travel, recent holidays.

Current events, politics

Work and professions.

Your previous experiences and travels in Germany and

other parts of Europe.

Germany produces some of the finest beers in the world,

and seasoned drinkers enjoy comparing and
contrasting the qualities of the various brews available.
 !
) 
World War II/the Holocaust
[although sometimes you will
be surprised at how openly and
frankly Germans of all ages will
make reference to or comment
on their history]

Personal questions [especially

salary, cost of personal objects]
among people you don't know
or know well, especially in a
business environment [work
and family life are usually kept
separate]
Food
%    
 
  
It is traditional in Germany to eat the
main meal of the day at lunchtime,
between 11:30 AÔ and 1:30 PÔ.
In contrast to a long, several-course
meal, a German lunch usually
consists of an appetizer (usually
soup), a main course, and a
dessert.
When you are attending a business
conference, both lunch and dinner
are considered important
components of the conference.
Ôeals allow those attending to
make personal contacts and to
continue discussing business
issues in a more casual
atmosphere.
 %    


Traditionally, the most honored position is at the  

 , with individuals of the greatest importance
seated first to the left and then to the right of the head of
the table. If a couple is hosting, often one will be at one
end of the table, the other at the opposite end.

Only very occasionally, at more formal dinner parties,

couples may be broken up and seated next to people
they do not know. The intention of this arrangement is to
introduce new acquaintances and promote conversation,
especially if the guests are an international mix and more
comfortable with small talk.
 u  
Stick to the facts and sell your
business, not yourself. To
Germans, business is business and
does not have to do with personal
relationships. They are serious
businesspeople, so joking may give
the impression you do not take your
business -- or worse, theirs -- very
seriously.
Stand your ground, respectfully.
Interruptions are common in
business conversation, and often
the most tenacious talker wins. If
you feel your point must be heard,
keep at it. If you are interrupted
while answering a question, take
that as a sign that your answer was
sufficient and needs no further
detail, and move on.
 u  

German negotiators have 2 main objectives:

‡ *  

‡ *  ) 

You should use direct, clear and logical language

based on arguments, numerical data and
graphs should follow a predetermined
structure.
The Germans are more concerned about facts
than the company¶s image or history.
 

  

In general, gift giving is an important symbolic gesture

practiced in all cultures.

In Germany, a small gift is polite, especially when

contacts are made for the first time.

Gifts are expected for social events, especially to

express your thanks after you have been invited to a
dinner party at a home. Avoid selecting anything
obviously expensive, as this may make the other
person feel ³obligated´ to your generosity.
 

  

For the company you are visiting,

quality pens, tasteful office items
with your company logo, or
imported liquor are usually safe
choices.
Fine chocolates can also be an
appropriate gift when you are
invited to a home.
If you decide to bring alcohol, a
good imported liquor is the safest
choice.
You can also bring a wine of
excellent vintage from your home
country or an exceptional
imported red wine. A gift of
German wine, however, should
then be a more upmarket label.
  ) 

Red roses are for lovers; lilies and

heathersare used in funerals.

Clothing, perfumes, and other

toiletries are considered far too
personal to be appropriate gifts.
Scarves, however, are
acceptable gifts according to
German business protocol.

Avoid bringing beer as a gift,

since many of the finest brands in
the world are already produced
and widely available here.
m