Germans and French in Business Life

In the last few years, globalisation has brought about enormous changes to business life. Due to a continuous increase in the number of international companies, coping with cultural diversity becomes a central issue of the 21st century. France and Germany is a perfect example for the difficulties and problems, which may arise in working life due to cultural differences - as several mergers have shown. Although the two nations are very close to each other from a geographical point of view, there is still a wide gap between both cultures. Why do French people not adhere to deadlines? Do business lunches have to be longer than absolutely necessary? Starting from the basic terminology of intercultural competence and communication, the author Sarah-Jane Pill guides the reader through history and society of the two neighbouring countries. Furthermore, numerous practical examples about cultural patterns in various aspects of business life are analysed. Thus the reader is able to develop a valuable in-depth know-how leading to a profound intercultural understanding. This book addresses primarily French and German managers or employees who are working in a multicultural environment.