Brazil’s hunger for growth is noteworthy on many fronts. Working long hours to make new sales targets and developing business at all hours of the day has become the norm for many Brazilians. So much that President Dilma Rouseff enacted a law ordering companies to pay overtime for emails or calls taken after the normal work day (versus the VW approach to prohibit this activity after employees leave the office).

In the Financial Times, a professor of accountancy says, “Brazilians are always late, meetings never start on time…You sit there for two hours talking about one thing, then another.” The argument is that because of the pace of business and the fluidity of “Brazilian time”, it may often become necessary to address certain emails and business needs outside of the regular work day.

In the CNN report below, one labor lawyer talks about “technological slavery” – that it’s impossible for us to disconnect from the internet, from our phones and thus from our jobs.

What do you think is more feasible: shutting down servers after hours to prevent work from taking place, or having the employer compensate the employee? Is responsiveness more important than work-life balance?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

恭喜发财! Happy Chinese New Year, or literally, Congratulations and be prosperous!

Check out the Baidu.com homepage (China’s biggest search engine) for an interactive dragon animation.

QUIZ: which famous Chinese animal is not part of the zodiac? And, why do you think so? Leave your answer in the comments area below!

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In May of 2011, “…Merkel hinted that southern Europeans take too much holiday and retire too early,” which infuriated people all over the continent.

A report by Natixis’ (a bank in France) chief economist Patrick Artus claims the contrary: “Germans worked less annually and during their lifetime than Southern Europeans, and did not work more intensely than their neighbours either.” This news comes from Mercopress, a Uruguay-based independent news agency.

Here are the stat’s according to Artus’ study:

Hours of work per year
Germany: 1,390
Spain: 1,654
Portugal: 1,719
Italy: 1,773
Greece: 2,119

Real retirement age
France: 60
Italy: 60.1
Greece: 61.5
Germany: 62.2
Spain: 62.3
Portugal: 62.6

Of course, efficiency and productivity levels must be factored into this information, and the study claims Germany is on par with most of Southern Europe.

The cultural stereotype Merkel used (think siesta in Spain, for example) was just that, a stereotype. On the other hand, the cultural norms that display Southern Europeans’ value for work-life balance may still apply, but surprisingly to some, this value certainly exists in Northern Europe, too. Clearly, the data indicates a penchant to work less hours, which is corroborated by what we know about the stark division of business and private life for many Germans.

What does the data say to you?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

Read Charlene Solomon’s article in MOBILITY magazine, “International Assignments: Then & Now”.

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Brian Hults of Newell Rubbermaid (VP of global organizational and people development) cited CultureWizard in Talent Management magazine.

Here is the relevant excerpt:

Newell Rubbermaid, which has employees in more than 70 countries, requires its vice presidents and above to go through its Working in a Global Matrix program to help those leaders build skills they need to be successful in a global environment.

‘The program allows leaders to learn how conflict can be used to reinforce relationships within the organizational structure,’ Hults said. ‘[It] helps them understand their personal leadership style and how that can both help them and hinder them when working internationally. They can then use these insights to help them make adjustments in how they lead to be more effective outside of their home country.’

Further, every employee can access free of charge the CultureWizard, an online tool that provides an array of information about a country’s population, culture, economy and other stats. ‘It gives them an opportunity to learn a bit about the culture and the people that they’re seeing before they go into a country,’ he said…

By taking proactive steps to identify and develop the next generation of global executives, organizations can march boldly into today’s uber-competitive business battlefield.

Click here to read the full article. Thanks, Brian!

A compendium of current news and headlines with commentary providing unique cultural insight into global affairs, business and daily life around the world.

Interested in receiving the CultureWizard Digest every month? Click here to sign up.

Check out CultureWizard Digest #45 here!

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE:

* The Act of Weeping for Kim Jong-il
* To Wed Across Borders
* “The Awful German Language”
* Violent Expressions

CultureLinks
+ Gastrodiplomacy
+ Groupon’s Sales Culture

CultureTips
+ Destination Profile: Russia

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The Economist highlights the increasingly popular trend to marry individuals from outside one’s country of birth – at least 10 million marriages in “rich countries” are international. All this boils down to one concept: globalization (for the most part). The more global mobility becomes an everyday occurrence, the more we come into contact with diverse peoples from countries outside our own, and at the same time this interaction is normalized.

The tricky thing is to keep track of these marriages, and to define what is international and what is not. In any case, certain places attract couples for their wedding tourism packages, like Cyprus in the graph below. In Taiwan, men marry Vietnamese women to strengthen their business ties in Vietnam. Men in East Asia also have a hard time finding local brides due to the “marriage strike” women in the region have been on (see our earlier post on this topic, which The Economist covered in detail).

What benefit is there to cross-border marriage?

Their unions are symbols of cultural integration, and battlefields for conflicts over integration. Few things help immigrants come to terms with their new country more than becoming part of a local family. Though the offspring of such unions may struggle with the barriers of prejudice, at their best international marriages reduce intolerance directly themselves, and indirectly through their progeny.

My parents had different passports when they married, and the result was a childhood that exposed me to two different sets of values, some aligned with mainstream US society and some not. It forced me to take a number of perspectives into consideration, which is certainly a skill everyone needs when doing business today. I’d say the trend will undoubtedly continue, but what is your sense?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s state news agency, released scenes of mourners in Pyongyang, most of whom display deep agony, some of whom are kneeling and pounding the ground with open palms. The video captures a powerful demonstration of national culture: the mourning ritual, the response to the loss and more specifically the uniformly intense act of weeping. We thought it would be good to draw attention to these customs and behaviors in relation to Korean culture.

In South Korea, when a parent passes away, how much a child cries translates to how faithful they were. Explicit, outward expression of emotion is avoided in most circumstances per Korean cultural norms, but death merits the anguishing expressions we see in these scenes. Read this GlobalPost article on how Korean culture plays a role in the reaction to North Korea’s leader.

In this New York Times article, the mourning ritual is attributed to Confucianism, the root of many Asian cultures.

Contrived as they might look to Western eyes, the wild expressions of grief at funerals — the convulsive sobbing, fist pounding and body-shaking bawling — are an accepted part of Korean Confucian culture, and can be witnessed at the funerals of the famous and the not famous alike in South Korea. But in the North, the culture of mourning has been magnified by a cult of personality in which the country’s leader is considered every North Korean’s father.

We invite you to comment on what you think and experience after watching this video, both from your own perspective, but also from what you perceive to be the perspective of a North Korean.

What do you think is happening? Is this a manifestation of national culture, is it emblematic of something entirely different or is it a combination?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

Joe Lurie, an intercultural trainer and consultant based in San Francisco, reflects on his observation that the English Americans speak is riddled with words, phrases and terminology rooted in gun metaphors and firearm related concepts. I’d argue this is a unique characteristic embedded in the American lexicon (which has certainly spread to other English-speaking regions and peoples through popular culture). Lurie’s essay was published earlier this month in the SIETAR Europa Journal.

Here is an excerpt demonstrating the violent nature of the language:

As I flipped through tv channels, watching left and right wing politicians and pundits battling in a ‘cross-fire’ of blame, each side looking for a ‘smoking gun’ to explain or cast blame for the Tucson tragedy, I became increasingly aware of how we US Americans unconsciously use gun language to express ourselves, even during the most innocent interactions.

In conversation, we often value the ‘straight shooter,’ yet are wary of those who ‘shoot their mouths off,’ those who ‘shoot from the hip’ or glibly end an argument with a ‘parting shot.’ We caution our friends and colleagues to avoid ‘shooting themselves in the foot,’ and counsel them not to ‘shoot the messenger.’

In other kinds of sensitive business negotiations, I’ve advised patience, urging colleagues to avoid ‘jumping the gun.’ When the moment is right for getting the biggest ‘bang for the buck,’ I’ve agreed to bring the ‘big guns’ to the table. We look for ‘silver bullet’ solutions, hoping for ‘bulletproof’ results.

I’d bet many of us don’t think twice about the provenance of these everyday expressions. America’s historical relationship with guns and explosives is an obvious link, but how else has the obsession transferred to language?

Please tell us what you think about this unknowingly violent way of communicating. How does it impact the business process when Americans are taken out of their own cultural context and placed in another, e.g. in China where an interpreter is employed?

For more information about Joe Lurie and his work, click here to see his LinkedIn profile or contact him at joelurie@gmail.com.

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

Winning the hearts and stomachs of people around the world might be one of the most effective ways of bridging cultures. For centuries, food’s diplomatic prowess has provided a channel for introducing and exploring new cultures, often earlier than substantial human-to-human contact is made. The token trip to New York’s Chinatown for an authentic dim sum experience or to Brick Lane in East London for a Bangladeshi meal is a typically modern food experience many of us in the West know well. In Hend Alhinnawi’s blog post, she cites Paul Rockower’s definition of gastrodiplomacy: a way to use “culinary delights to appeal to global appetites, and thus helps raise a nation’s brand awareness and reputation.” Alhinnawi goes on to say:

It is an important tool in building cultural understanding, and in turn, breaking down traditional barriers by providing insight into a culture that might otherwise be unknown to a person. While many Americans may never experience the joys, sights and sounds of Incredible India, they can taste the culture through a culinary sampling at their local Indian market or restaurant. By bringing the food to their local communities, these outlets are great for engaging audiences through gastrodiplomacy, one palate at a time.

“Vindaloo Against Violence” is a project one Australian launched in 2010 to combat hostility towards Indians in her city, Melbourne, by encouraging people to dine at Indian eateries. It was effective – 17,000 people signed up to partake (we all know that the prospect of good food is an effective way to gather support!).

I wrote my graduate thesis on how mainstream American society shifted from initially shunning Italian foods to consuming it at very high levels. This started with the en masse migration of Europeans, many of whom were Italian, to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At first, North American society saw Italian foods in the same way it perceived the people who created and consumed them: suspicious, foreign and unpalatable. The historical trajectory of the cuisine is remarkable, as gastrodiplomacy gradually brought people to love Italian pizza and pasta – foods consumed in countries worldwide. This was in part due to the energies of the Italian diaspora and the success they had as entrepreneurs, restaurant owners and purveyors of food in general. In my thesis, I linked the increasingly saturated Italian food industry to the Italian community’s integration into US society, and how the food acted as a diplomat by building awareness of Italian values and traditions for mainstream society.

Where have you experienced or seen gastrodiplomacy at work? Do you think food has the power to unite people from different countries and different backgrounds?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

I don’t mean to post yet another story on the challenges related to German culture (here’s another recent post on how to split the restaurant bill in Germany), but re-visiting Mark Twain’s essay on the incredibly difficult nature of the German language was irresistible. Patrick Schmidt of SIETAR Europa updated Twain’s famous satire on the bizarre mechanics of Deutsch (click here to read the original, published in 1880).

One of the poignant thoughts Schmidt shares is that “to be taken seriously in the German language, one needs to conceal the meaning of a sentence by placing the main verb at the very end.” Thus, one must listen to the entire statement, however long, to extract the full meaning. Because the sentence structure follows the subject-object-verb model (and not subject-verb-object, as in English), “action” doesn’t take place until the end…

It seems when Germans are listening to someone, they are intensely waiting for the speaker to tell them the last word. And when it is finally announced, you see an expression of climactic relief on their faces.

I once asked my father, who is native to Hamburg, to tell me the longest German word he could think of. The word that came to mind is of a strange origin, but it illustrates the synthetic nature of German, whereby several words are combined to create a single meaning. The word was impressive: hottentottentittenattentat (that’s 12 t’s!). Four words strung together to become an idea whose meaning (and purpose) may evade the hardiest of German students. However, it’s not only the arcane that merits long winded orthography, but everyday words, I would argue, that are on average longer in German than in English. Instead of using one word to convey a complex idea, many words are synthesized to create a very straightforward approach to communicating concepts and meaning, which relate to the brutally direct nature of the typical German communication style.

How much does language lend itself to cultural values? I’d say a fair amount considering the central value of precision and orderliness in German society. Thoughtfully constructed sentences and products are a result of these cultural values. While English is unarguably a global language and has evolved through numerous cultures and communities around the world, the German language evolved in a much smaller space, which I suspect has allowed for less foreign influence and thus less tinkering over the ages. A language that is based on so many things, often requiring much calculation and foresight (how do you spontaneously express yourself if you don’t already have the ending verbal statement in mind?) have most likely influenced many of the deeply embedded values of Germanic peoples.

What do you think?

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

Do the French like to work, or do they dislike their companies? This year, only 64% of a group of French professionals polled said they liked their company. This figure was at 79% in 2005, according to this article in The Economist. The article goes on to say:

Many outsiders conclude that French workers are simply lazy. “Absolument Dé-bor-dée!” (“Absolutely Snowed Under”), a book which came out last year, described how state employees compete to do nothing at work. Another title in this bestselling genre on avoiding toil, “Bonjour Paresse” (“Hello Laziness”) by Corinne Maier, an economist, explained how she got away with doing nothing at EDF, another utility.

The art of doing the least amount of work possible while on the job.

However, studies show that French professionals have a bone of contention with management, not with the idea of work itself, which may be leading to the lack of motivation and productivity while on the job.

…The problem with French employees is less that they are work-shy, than that they are poorly managed. According to a report on national competitiveness by the World Economic Forum, the French rank and file has a much stronger work ethic than American, British or Dutch employees. They find great satisfaction in their work, but register profound discontent with the way their firms are run.

Furthermore, 40% of employees, according to a 2010 study by BVA, “actively dislike their firm’s top managers”. What explains this discontent?

Thomas Philippon, a French economist, says that too many French organizations depend on academic and governmental elites as their leaders versus following the commonplace meritocracy that exists in France’s grandes écoles, or institutes of higher learning. Furthermore, logic and reason reign supreme within the realm of French culture.

Considering all of this, wouldn’t it be logical for French companies to promote individuals based on performance rather than engage in cronyism? If meritocracy is fiercely protected in the academic world, why doesn’t it apply to the private industry?

Please share your experiences working for French companies and with French colleagues – we’d love to hear them!

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

The following culture tips will come in handy when doing business with France.

+ The French are private people and have different rules of behavior for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite, it is with their close friends and family that they express themselves freely and openly.

+ A well-rounded education indicates status and breeding. It is a good idea to become familiar with French history and culture to impress French colleagues.

+ People who are well read and can speak intelligently about the arts are considered of a higher class.

+ As a general business rule, French people are more serious in demeanor and do not smile without a reason. Although most French businesspeople understand that smiling is more commonplace in many other cultures, they may be unimpressed by expressions of humor or over-familiarity.

+ Foreign businesswomen will be treated with the same courtesy and respect that French men afford all women. Well-dressed women generally receive courtly attention from French men, including appreciative glances or a compliment about their clothes.

+ The handshake is a common form of greeting. Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks. The number of kisses–one to four–varies according to the region.

+ The French have a great appreciation for the art of conversation. Their communication style is direct, often interlaced with probing questions. Therefore, it is important to present a logical argument and be able to approach the situation from multiple angles.

+ Heated discussion and negotiation are part of French communication. The French enjoy confrontational discussion and see them as an opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence and knowledge of the subject matter.

Key French Business Values

• Deadlines often viewed as guidelines
• Relationships are important , time invested to strengthen professional ties
• Trust is earned, not assumed
• Reason, logic, and analysis lead to business success
• Low tolerance for risk
• Skepticism and suspicion towards simple, quick solutions
• Rely on written reports and data
• Courtesy and good manners are important
• Eloquent communication highly valued
• Titles and honorifics are important

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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Geremie Sawadogo of the World Bank surveyed 200 international aid workers in Sub-Saharan Africa and found the top cultural challenges to be: 1) the way time is used and perceived, 2) hierarchy and family lineage, 3) relationship building, 4) deference to authority and 5) the concept of “face”.

These findings are presented in his recent MOBILITY article. Sawadogo highlights the challenge of defining general cultural concepts within the scope of “Africa” (the continent) and Sub-Saharan Africa as a region. Just as one can’t look at Europe or Asia as a general cultural region, although many always refer to the “West” and “East” for simplicity’s sake, Africa can’t accurately be understood in this context.

One of the article’s most interesting insights is an expression for losing face from Cote d’Ivoire, which is translated to “you poured my face down on the ground.” This descriptive saying expresses how losing face can severely damage a business relationship and a person’s stature within a business. Culture also informs the definition of risk, which “face” impacts: do you risk loss of face in order to reveal certain facts, or do you save face by avoiding mention of something that would be like “pouring someone’s face on the ground”?

What do you value: saving face or objectivity? What have your personal and professional experiences been in Africa?

Also, to learn more about doing business in Africa, watch this TED talk given by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Want to help Africa? Do business here.

Sean

RW3 CultureWizard

AFAR’s Curious Planet section published an infographic depicting global travel in its latest issue. Above is a snippet from the infographic. What experiences do you have in these countries? Which countries have felt most welcoming to you as a visitor?

Did you know the longest existing, scheduled train ride is from Moscow, Russia to Pyongyang, North Korea and lasts over seven days? What is your favorite form of travel: train, car, plane, bike or something else?

Sean

RW3 CultureWizard