What are the major elements and dimensions of culture in this region?
Germany is located in Central Europe, and the capital is Berlin with a max population of 83 million (Germany - Language, Culture, Customs and Business Etiquette, 2015). These elements and dimensions of culture distinguish one group of people from another, as this is true of the unique ethnic make-up of Germany. The major elements and dimension of culture in Germany is how they communicate, a belief system, the cultural values and attitudes of the people in the country, describes a temperament among a group of indigenous citizens, as well as their elemental lifestyle. Germany elements of culture make the country stand-alone (Danger, 2003). Therefore, Germany present
…show more content…
Negative feedback is often lacking precisely because the types of general organization relationships that would facilitate it have not been developed and maintained. Germany’s top management must take deliberate steps to make such feedback possible, regardless of the possible consequences (Milakovich et al, (2009). Cultural values provides a framework for acceptable behavior in that country, however, communication between two countries can be awkward if professionals do not conduct proper research (Satterlee, …show more content…
Understanding a country culture and values, or being familiar with the presentation of business manners, and customs. Social structure is probably the most important of them all. The social structure or social statues of Germany is pretty much similar to other countries. Germany social structure is comprised of the four social classes, upper, middle, working and lower (Satterlee, 2014). For instance, McDonald in Germany must hire a combination of social classes, a diversified group of internationals students, interns or a multicultural employee, who is trained in international business (Luyken, 2015). Although a McDonald retailer in Germany doesn’t have to campaign for skill workers in this type of restaurant chain because almost half of foreign students come from other European countries, with Russian being the most common European nationality (Luyken, 2015). Plus, in comparison to Germany, the United States however, must campaign for skill workers, if needed to translate for foreign students because of centralization or the parliamentary form of government practiced in most democratic nations (Milakovich & Gordon,
Many Americans can link their heritage to German origins. However, the German’s values, norms and beliefs have shifted when combined with American culture. Within Germany’s culture, there are common themes of organization, compartmentalization, and formality. The interaction between these themes of values, norms and beliefs influences the German culture, structured society, and worldview. While there are similarities between German and American culture, these two countries have difference views on human psychie.
Hagen W (2012). ‘German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation’. Published by Cambridge University Press (13 Feb 2012)
The Songerweg emphasizes the particular model of history that Germany, unlike other Western countries, has gone through. Specifically, ‘proponents of this concept emphasize the peculiarities of German history, such as political institutions, social structures, or mentalities and experience, usually in comparison with other Western countries, to demonstrate the unique course of German history’ (Buse & Doerr, 1998, p. 934). Although initially the theory of Sonderweg viewed the characteristics of German historical development as positive, the situation has changed after the World War II. Specifically, in the 19th and early 20th centuries historians applied the Sonderweg model to stress a focus on the role of strong central state and military as the driving force of the development of the country (Buse & Doerr, 1998). In addition to this, historians regarded social reforms in Germany that were made from ‘above’ rather than being the outcomes of revolution to be a positive feature that depicted German state in a favorable way. Finally, the historical school viewed the course of German industrialization and culture as superior to similar processed in the rest of Western European
...els have been criticized by many, including Hofstede. Hofstede questioned the applicability of Trompenaa’rs work considering its focus on managerial behavior based on organizational relationship models in the U.S., saying, ”A serious shortcoming of Tromenaar’s data bank which no professional analysis can correct is its evident lack of content validity,” while other critics of Trompenaar’s research say his research is faulty due to ”cultural biases and base assumptions (Minko, 2011) (St. Claire-Ostwald, 2007) (Agents2Change, 2012).” Even with these shortcomings, businesses continue to use these models for insight into cultural differences and how they affect management culture and behavior.
The phrase "a lesson to be learned and a tragedy to behold" has been indelibly attached to the Holocaust that to think of it in any other way is thought to insult all those of the Jewish community who lost their lives to the attempted genocide of their race by the Nazi regime. Despite such brevity attached to learning lessons from the Holocaust one must wonder whether the lesson has actually been learned or if people will continue to repeat the mistakes of the past. Angela Merkel, the current German Chancellor, has stated that the German experiment towards multi-culturalism has failed, those who wish to migrate into the country must learn the German way whether it is the language they speak, the culture they have or the very religion they hold dear . Such sentiments seem to echo those of the former Third Reich which held the German way, the Aryan way, as the only path to which people should attempt to pursue. While this paper is not trying to vilify the current German government nor is it trying to compare it to the Third Reich, the fact remains that the steps their government is taking fall uneasily close to that of their vilified predecessor. The fact is though, the German government is merely following through with the popular sentiment of its citizenry who believe immigrants coming into the country disrupts the German way of life and all attempts to live side by side in peace have failed. Despite being a predominantly Christian nation who supposedly follow the way of Christ, to hear them say that makes one wonder whether their claims truly reflects their deeds. It is from this situation that the essay of Eckardt and its view that the Holocaust is a "Christian Problem" becomes relevant to what is happening in the world today.
Ethnography is a research method used to explore different cultures from a personal view. Many anthropologists have sought to use ethnography as their main study method because of its specificity and opportunity to get hands on. Those that participate in ethnographies are expected to accurately record detailed accounts of the society in which they are staying, but at the same time maintain a critical distance.
Even though it’s a stereotype that the German people are extremely hard workers, they can still have fun. Germany is a country that contains roughly around 81 million people. 95% of those able bodied people are employed and working. Industries hire one third of the German workforce, while others work in some other way. Germany has many factories and it also mines a lot of coal, as it is one of its’ most important resources. Al...
Tacitus's Germania is a thoroughly itemized ethnographic text detailing the geography, climate and social structure of Germany and its people. Unlike his Histories and Annales Tacitus doesn't offer a story line to be followed, but instead, he nudges forth an unspoken comparison to be made between two cultures.
Despite the rapid advances of modern medicine, a large portion of developing countries points to herbal remedies as to curing ailments and other sicknesses needing medical attention. People around the world have been using herbal remedies since humans have existed on earth. They have used herbs, plant, and roots during their healing rituals in curing both physical and spiritual illnesses. Countries such as Africa, Asia, and the Mariana Islands still use traditional treatment as their primary healthcare. Guam, one of the most developed islands in the Mariana Islands, has been using traditional remedies since the Spaniards conquered the ancient Chamorros. Ancient Chamorros used plants found around the island to cure the sick and identified the people who used traditional remedies as suruhanus for men and suruhanas for women. They have come to believed that suruhanus or suruhanas as the doctors we have today. Other than the suruhanus and suruhanas, ancient Chamorros also had another type of healers: the makahna and kakahnas. Makahnas and kakahnas, believed by the Chamorros, are shamans who had the connection between in both physical and spiritual worlds, and had magical powers. Reading about these healers had caught my interest in doing an in dept research about the suruhanus of Guam, especially after stumbling upon Ann M. Pobutsky’s “Suruhanas: A Profile of Traditional Women Healers in the Village of Umatac, Guam.” Although stumbling to a chapter based on traditional healers was just pure coincidence, I have come to a decision of researching about these people. Doing this research had helped me identify the major factors leading to a sense of spiritual and ritual identity of Guam. It had aided me to recognize the cultural uniqueness...
Intercultural Press. 2000 Understanding Contemporary Germany. Stuart Parkes. Routledge.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, culture is defined as tradition or a way of life. It is also a defining principle in how we live our life and the type of people we become. The Salish Indians of the Montana and Celie, the main character of the book The Color Purple, are two examples of cultures that made them who they are. Celie is a poor, black, woman growing up in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-twentieth century. The men have constantly put her down, through beatings and rape, for being a woman with no talent at all. Her husband’s lover comes to town and gives Celie a chance to see a culture where a woman can stand up for herself and teaches her that love is possible. The Salish on the other hand have a culture that has gone on through the ages and still is a part of each person today despite the obstacles they have had to face. Culture does shape us because from birth it is what tells us our ideals, laws, and morals that we live by each day.
One of the most significant differences is that Germans are a lot more formal in public. It is not common in Germany to wave and yell at someone across the street or outside at all, they are very reserved and this tends to draw negative attention. Eye contact is also a very important part of German culture. A lot is judged on eye contact. If someone meets your eye contact when talking it means that they are listening and agree with what is being said, if eye contact is avoided than it is taken that one does not agree with what is being said. Within a business meeting when the meeting is over, in Germany they do not clap, instead they show that they enjoyed the presentation or meeting by rapping their knuckles against the table top. Nonverbal communication is significantly more formal and reserved in Germany than in the United States, to be successful with business there one needs to really be more conservative and not as loud in public and business
Anthropology is known as the study of human beings, over time and space. We often look at anthropology as just the evolution of mankind and their basic development. After taking a class in Cultural Anthropology, I’ve come to realize how much more in depth it is. There are many different aspects that we do not look at. We do not need to be anthropologists to see how these concepts can apply to our daily lives. Anthropology makes you to look at the world differently than you were taught too. Cultural anthropology, has a holistic approach that helps us to see how one society relates to itself and how that society can be taken on its own terms without bias. It helps to identify our own way of viewing various different cultures around the world and realize that the way we do things and see things may not be the only right way there is. There are other people around the world that are different from us and do things differently that we are used to or that we find to be “the right way”.
The differences in other cultures vary from beliefs to ways of life, or norms, of the different societies. The importance of understanding and sensitivity to other countries’ differences is crucial to a business’ success. “Lack of familiarity with the business practices, social customs, and etiquette of a country can weaken a co...
Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969. Kitchen, Martin. A History of Modern Germany: 1800-2000. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006. Sprout, Otto.