Over There: Conducting Business with Europeans

Overview/Description
 Europe, with its richness of history, heritage, and cultural diversity, poses challenges in business etiquette and cultural understanding for the business traveler or transplant. While similarities to American business practices make it a friendly environment for conducting business, the continent is vast with many small countries, each of which has its own cultural heritage. This course focuses first on the similarities among Europeans. Guidelines for getting along with Europeans are offered in the first lesson, as well as a discussion on cultural characteristics of Northern Europeans and of Southern Europeans. The last three lessons deal with cultural understanding of the three largest markets in Europe--namely, Great Britain, Germany, and France. You'll explore characteristics of each country that will enhance your cultural understanding of and your sensitivity to your European business partners. You'll examine effective strategies for conducting business within each nation's cultural framework. Be a good guest, as your mother may have told you. Prepare yourself for your European business encounter by learning the cultural expectations of your host. Demonstrating your sincerity and respect through cultural understanding will go a long way toward achieving the European business relationship you desire.

Target Audience
 International business travelers, managers, directors, project managers, project team managers, and other personnel conducting business with other cultures.

Expected Duration
2.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Getting Along with European People

  • recognize the benefits of developing an understanding of European cultures.
  • select guidelines for getting along with Europeans.
  • choose characteristics that are representative of Northern Europeans.
  • choose characteristics that are representative of Southern Europeans.

    • Great Britain

  • recognize the importance of understanding cultural differences between America and Great Britain.
  • select national characteristics of British people.
  • discover tips for communicating with British people.
  • identify tips for conducting business in Great Britain.

    • France

  • recognize the benefits of developing a cultural awareness of the French people.
  • identify national characteristics of the French people.
  • identify tips for getting along in public in France.
  • choose effective strategies for conducting business in France.

    • Germany

  • recognize the benefits of developing an awareness of the German culture.
  • identify cultural characteristics of the German people.
  • select tips for getting along with German people.
  • choose strategies for conducting business in Germany.

    • Course Number: COMM0604