Exploring the german business culture Assignment

Exploring the german business culture - Assignment Example The official language is German that is used by over 95% of the population as their first language. Other minority languages include Sorbian, Frisian, Turkish and Kurdish. The communities experience a temperate and marine climate with cloudy and wet winters while the summers occasionally warm. The paper below address the German cultural aspects that should be considered when opening a business venture in Berlin through focus of intercultural aspects such as communication and decision-making styles. Each member has a defined role that he plays in a team. Individual members are respected for their technical ability and knowledge. Most of the organizational roles are undertaken under minimal supervision of the teams. Cross-cultural team management can prove difficult because most people are requested to make decisions in relation to their area of hierarchy. Therefore, decisions made at cross-departmental groups are revisited after the groups have submitted their findings to their superiors. Managers delegate responsibility to a group member who is technically competent to perform the delegated tasks (Gerhart, 2008: 259-274). The appointed person is given concise and clear instructions as the manager does not supervise or interfere with their duties. Socialization within the work quarters tends to be horizontal rather than vertical. Some of the cultural artifacts that characterize the business environment include: The vital aspect of German communication is the direct communication style that is seemingly confrontational. Business discussions and interactive meetings are characterized by open criticism normally directed towards any aspect of the problem, business or project at hand. This should not be considered as disapproval, but rather a method of seeking clarification on the business aspect that attracts their interest. At a personal level, Germans tend to be formally withdrawn, which many people view as being