PMNERTREr CULTURES -~ COMMUNICATION STYLES @ Business culture in Germany 1 Kead these extracts 2 In pairs, discuss about German the similarities and nace culture differences to your from an online ‘own country’s business guide. culture. ” eve Gr) r | Greetings hen Gamen people greet each ote thoy shake hands bi bu fry seeping cect eye contact. Fervonal apace i Perconal sce is Important for Germans. They ike to keep someone a | is lrath whan takng to then, ures thoy know the oar person wll } Communication style Germans have en open and rect way of comunicating. People tom other cutues can sometimes be surised or uose by ths | Punctuality Punctuality is important in German business. Thay expect yau tobe on tene focmestngs and appointmonts Names and titles Titles are important when you frst meet Germen businesspeople. When you lak lo them, use Her (Mi) or Frau (Mrs), flawed by thar tte and surname. For examplo, ifthe person has an academic degree, such as, Doktor, you should adress them as Herr (ar Frau) Doktor Mille, Meetings Agendas are followed strictly and thee ere usually detinte beginning and ‘ening times. © Business culture in China 400183 Gayle Bradley, an American business executive, has just returned to the US after working for a year in the company's subsidiary in Shanghai, China. She talks to a colleague, Don Sanders, about the Chinese business culture. Listen and answer these questions. 1. When do you usually shake hands in a Chinese company? 2. Why do the Chinese try not to say no to you? 3. Whatis the difference between the Chinese and American way of communicating? 4. What isa good way of finding out what a Chinese person really means? 5) Whats the best way of addressing a Chinese business contact? a) by surname only )bytitle and surname ¢) by title only How should you present your business card? Why is t not good to intertupt a Chinese person in a meeting? Workin groups. You work for a multinational company. You have the opportunity of a one-year posting to a subsidiary in either China, the US or Germany. You will work with @ departmental manager and local staff. Discuss these questions. 1 Which subsidiary do you want to go to? Give reasons for your answer. 2 How will you prepare for your posting? 3 what do you nope to learn trom your one-year visit: 6