CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION GERMANY (DEUTSCHLAND)

Compiled By:

• Fraulien Singh (Shubhi)• Froulien Mahajan

(Ayesha)• Herr Sharma(Debanjan)• Herr Mohapatra

(Swayam)• Herr Jain (Rishab)• Herr Ehsan

Facts• Location : Central Europe• Capital City: Berlin• Administration: Democratic-

Parliamentary System• State system: 16• Language: German• National Currency :Euro

The People

Value order, privacy Punctuality.Hard working,

industrious. Respect

perfectionism

AppointmentsDO’s• Make appointments well in advance.

• Call and notify, if late with an explanation.

• The preferred times for business appointments: b/w 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m, b/w 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

DONT’s• Avoid scheduling appointments on Friday

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

• Be sensitive to vacation/festival periods.

GreetingGuten Morgen (good morning), Guten Tag

(hello/good afternoon/good day),Auf wiedersehen (Until we meet).

Always reply using the same.

Names and Title• Use last names and appropriate titles until

specifically invited by your German host or colleagues to use their first names.

• Use prefix Herr (Mr), Frau (Mrs) or Frouline (Miss) followed by their last name/occupational title.

• Use their entire title however long it maybe while addressing them e.g. Herr/Frau Doctor Bauer.

Meeting• Letters should be addressed to the top person

in the functional area and should be in German.

• The highest ranking person enters the room first.

• Men enter before women.• Maintain direct eye- contact.• Printed material in both English and German.

Business Cards

Do’sDon’ts

BODY LANGUAGE

•Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do business.

•They will be interested in your academic credentials and the amount of time your

company has been in business.

•Do not have an open-door policy.

•Germans will be direct to the point of bluntness.

•Expect a great deal of written communication, both to back up decisions and to

maintain a record of decisions and discussions.

•For meetings, one must be on time. 

•Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow your German

colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.

•At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their

knuckles on the tabletop.

•There is a strict protocol to follow when entering a room:

The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly equivalent.

Dress Etiquette

•Men should wear dark colored, conservative

business suits.

•Women should wear either business suits or

conservative dresses.

•Do not wear flashy accessories.

DINING ETIQUETTEEtiquette for calling waiter/waitressConversation during Lunch/DinnerSpouseDrinking etiquetteCourtesy during mealsSeating arrangements

Keep your hands on the table and not in your lap.

Use cutlery for every dish.Do not leave any food on your plate when you

are finished eating.Do not smoke until after dinner is finished and

coffee is served. Then ask permission.A "thank you" is usually done in person or with

a telephone call.Favorite Food: Sausages and Black forest

cake.Favorite Beverage: BeerFestival:Ocktober Fest(Munich )

•A gift chosen should be small and of good quality, but not overly expensive.

•Acceptable gifts at business meetings are items of office equipment, good quality pens with your company’s logo or liquor

•When invited to a German home, it is appropriate to bring a gift of flowers, wine, chocolates, or a small gift that represents your home country or region.

•Flowers should be given in uneven numbers and unwrapped .

•Avoid presenting 13 of any kind of flower or red roses

Gifts to be given

Gifts not to be given

•Do not give red roses as they symbolise romantic intentions.

•Do not give carnations as they symbolise mourning.

•Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

• Clothing and perfumes are considered to be far personal to be appropriate.

•Avoid bringing beer as a gift.

Women Traditionally, there has been little acceptance

of women in high positions of responsibility and power in business.

Women, especially foreign women, must establish their position and ability immediately in order to conduct business successfully in Germany.

Germany is the largest exporter in the world