Cultural Analysis: The Federal Republic of Germany
Introduction:
Overall, Germany is a highly educated, punctual, country with a strong basis of family, state and country pride and a rich, if bloody, history. With a Federal Democracy based in equal parts on the governments of the United States and Great Britain, Germany holds the dignity and rights of its’ people at the forefront of its’ national and international policy.
A Brief History:
Made up of sixteen Länder or states, the country has had a major part to play in both World Wars. After its defeat in 1945, and the dissolution of the Nazi Regime, Germany was divided between the four main Allies: Great Britain, France, America, and the Soviet Union. This resulted in a clear division through …show more content…
This means that German society is inclined to highly value performance and tend to follow the motto of “living in order to work.” The society also tends to think in the long-term, and finds adapting their traditions to modern ideals easy. A strong propensity to save and invest their money as well as a tendency to cynicism and pessimism is prevalent. The phrase “so honest it hurts” is often used to describe the German populace, particularly in the business setting, and leadership is challenged to show expertise and accepted based on experience rather than knowledge, although counterparts are given fair chances to learn from their mistakes (13). Business Customs & Practices: German business culture is very conservative, regimented and inclined to follow the rules to the letter. Considered “masters of planning” punctuality is incredibly important in German business interactions, and surprises, even pleasant ones, are often unwelcome. Because of this, the United States custom of small talk is considered odd, and German businessmen and women are known for their blunt speech and private manner. From personal experiences, many day to day interactions are brusque, and may come across as rude or impersonal without prior knowledge of German culture
Introduction:
Overall, Germany is a highly educated, punctual, country with a strong basis of family, state and country pride and a rich, if bloody, history. With a Federal Democracy based in equal parts on the governments of the United States and Great Britain, Germany holds the dignity and rights of its’ people at the forefront of its’ national and international policy.
A Brief History:
Made up of sixteen Länder or states, the country has had a major part to play in both World Wars. After its defeat in 1945, and the dissolution of the Nazi Regime, Germany was divided between the four main Allies: Great Britain, France, America, and the Soviet Union. This resulted in a clear division through …show more content…
This means that German society is inclined to highly value performance and tend to follow the motto of “living in order to work.” The society also tends to think in the long-term, and finds adapting their traditions to modern ideals easy. A strong propensity to save and invest their money as well as a tendency to cynicism and pessimism is prevalent. The phrase “so honest it hurts” is often used to describe the German populace, particularly in the business setting, and leadership is challenged to show expertise and accepted based on experience rather than knowledge, although counterparts are given fair chances to learn from their mistakes (13). Business Customs & Practices: German business culture is very conservative, regimented and inclined to follow the rules to the letter. Considered “masters of planning” punctuality is incredibly important in German business interactions, and surprises, even pleasant ones, are often unwelcome. Because of this, the United States custom of small talk is considered odd, and German businessmen and women are known for their blunt speech and private manner. From personal experiences, many day to day interactions are brusque, and may come across as rude or impersonal without prior knowledge of German culture