West University of Timisoara Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

GERMANY
Culture and traditions

Student : Biacsi Christine Alina CIG Year 2 Series 1 Group 1 Professor : Boldea Monica

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Culture of Germany ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Languages in Germany ............................................................................................................................. 4 The Style of People Life ........................................................................................................................... 4 German Art ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Music ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Sports ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 German Society & Culture............................................................................................................................ 5 A Planning Culture ................................................................................................................................... 5 The German Home .................................................................................................................................... 6 German Etiquette & Customs ....................................................................................................................... 6 Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany ................................................................................................ 7 Business Meeting Etiquette....................................................................................................................... 7 Business Negotiation ................................................................................................................................ 8 Dress Etiquette .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Work and Social Life .................................................................................................................................... 8 Comparison between Germany and Romania by Geert Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions............................ 9 Power distance .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Individualism .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Masculinity / Femininity ......................................................................................................................... 11 Uncertainty avoidance ............................................................................................................................ 11 Long term orientation ............................................................................................................................. 12 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Bibliography : ............................................................................................................................................. 14

Introduction
Germany is located in the central part of Europe and covers an area of 356959-kilometer square. Germany enjoys both sea and mountain. The famous range of Alps Mountains run along the southern border of Germany. The climate of the place is also varied but it has a general temperate climatic condition. The country has many rivers running through it and has plenty of natural resources. Germany is famous for its art and crafts and also its architecture. The intricate designs crafted on the artifacts make all the art lovers yearn for German craftwork. The Christmas markets are the best place to find some good examples of German artwork. These markets will offer you everything from nutcrackers to German angels. Germans also have some unique customs and behavioral codes that the tourists must observe. Another major element of the culture of Germany is the German cuisine. the food type varies from one region to the other but it mainly concentrated on meat in the form of sausages and varieties of cakes and desserts. The German cuisine varies for each state. Each region has its own typical food items. Some of the specialties of German cuisine include Handakes, Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Welfenspeise, Rote Gruetze and lots more.

Germany attracts innumerable tourists from all parts of the world throughout the year. The country has some spectacular and historically famous towns, provinces and cities. There are plenty of beautiful churches and castle ruins all through the country. Almost all the cities have some intriguing tombs and monuments and other historical memorabilia. The Mainz Cathedral, the Guttenburg Museum are the major features of Mainz whereas Erfurt is a city that has its claim to fame for being the birthplace of many celebrated personalities like Max Webber and Johann Bernhard Bach. Martin Luther had also resided in this place for a long time. Berlin is the capital of Germany and is perhaps also its most popular tourist destinations. Most of the major events in Germany take place near hotels Berlin.

Apart from the ancient churches, tombs and historical sites, there are other things to enjoy in Germany as well. The country celebrates a large number of festivals throughout the year in various regions. Some of the major ones are Berlin Film Festival, the Berlin Love Parade and the Berlin Marathon.

Being a culturally active and historically significant place, Germany has plenty of museums that record the country's illustrious past. Some of the important museums are Stadel, Schirn Art Gallery and Bavarian National Museum.

Culture of Germany
Languages in Germany
The official language of Germany is German, with over 95% of the population speaking German as their first language. Minority languages include Sorbian, spoken by 0.09% in the east of Germany; North and West Frisian, spoken around the Rhine estuary by around 10,000 people, or 0.01%, who also speak German. Danish is spoken by 0.06%, mainly in the area along the Danish border. Romani, an indigenous language is spoken by around 0.08%. Immigrant languages include Turkish, which is spoken by around 1.8%, and Kurdish, by 0.3%. Why not learn some useful German phrases?

The Style of People Life

Germans are not, contrary to stereotypes, stubborn. They are just argumentative. Things have to be logical to them or they will argue about it until they find the logic. Now that logic does not have to be based in physics or math, but it does have to fit with their view of what is the correct way to live. For example, they know instinctively that drafts cause colds and therefore drafts are bad. They only accept modern medicines finding that bugs cause colds with the part of their brain that has nothing to do with behavior. They like ventilation in their homes, just not when they are in the room, Germans are passionate about lifestyle and politics an expensive combination from a societal perspective.

German Art
Germany has produced some of the best pieces of art work and has a long tradition in visual arts. Hans Holbein the Younger, and Matthias Grunewald were the major Renaissance artists. Print making, wood engravings and Gothic art of the sixteenth century are some of the major German innovations.

Architecture
The Carolingian and Ottonian styles, the precursors of Romanesque contributed to the architectural styles of Germany. The diverse architectural styles of the country is a result of fragmentation of the country during centuries. Abbey Church of St. Michael's, Speyer Cathedral, Freiburg Cathedral, and the Cologne Cathedral are the major architectural sites that are the prototype of German architecture.

Music
One of the leading music markets in the world, Germany is home to some of the most wellknown classical music composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner.

Literature
German literature is world-famous and dates back to the Middle Ages. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, and Hermann Hesse are some of the most renowned German authors. Germany hosts the Frankfurt Book Fair annually; it is the biggest book fair in the world.

Sports
Germany has been represented in various international sporting events including Formula One, FIFA World Cup, Summer Olympics, ice hockey, and tennis tournaments. One of the leading motor sports countries in the world, Germany is known for the manufacture of motor brands such as BMW and Mercedes.

German Society & Culture

A Planning Culture
In many respects, Germans can be considered the masters of planning. This is a culture that prizes forward thinking and knowing what they will be doing at a specific time on a specific day. Careful planning, in one's business and personal life, provides a sense of security. Rules and regulations allow people to know what is expected and plan their life accordingly. Once the proper way to perform a task is discovered, there is no need to think of doing it any other way. Germans believe that maintaining clear lines of demarcation between people, places, and things is the surest way to lead a structured and ordered life. Work and personal lives are rigidly divided. There is a proper time for every activity. When the business day ends, you are expected to leave the office. If you must remain after normal closing, it indicates that you did not plan your day properly.

The German Home

Germans take great pride in their homes. They are kept neat and tidy at all times, with everything in its appointed place. In a culture where most communication is rather formal, the home is the place where one can relax and allow your individualism to shine. Only close friends and relatives are invited into the sanctity of the house, so it is the one place where more informal communication may occur. There are many unwritten rules surrounding the outward maintenance of one's home. It is imperative that common areas such as sidewalks, pavements, corridors (in apartments), and steps be kept clean at all times.

German Etiquette & Customs

Meeting Etiquette
Greetings are formal. A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their surname. In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group. When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children.

Gift Giving Etiquette

If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers. Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received. Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions. Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning. Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals. If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine.Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a German's house: Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early. Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained. Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

Table manners
Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says 'guten appetit' (good appetite). At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her napkin in her lap before doing so yourself. Do not rest your elbows on the table. Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork. Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender. Finish everything on your plate. Rolls should be broken apart by hand. Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the knife. The host gives the first toast. An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany

Relationships & Communications
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. Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it is imperative that they understand your level relative to their own. Germans do not have an open-door policy. People often work with their office door closed. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering. German communication is formal. Following the established protocol is critical to building and maintaining business relationships. As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion. 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.

Business Meeting Etiquette

Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance. Letters should be addressed to the top person in the functional area, including the person's name as well as their proper business title. If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be written in German. Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it could jeopardize your business relationship. Meetings are generally formal. Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow your German colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy. Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times. Maintain direct eye contact while speaking. Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings. 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.

Business Negotiation
Do not sit until invited and told where to sit. There is a rigid protocol to be followed. Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times. Treat the process with the formality that it deserves. Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic. Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in the briefest of small talk. They will be interested in your credentials. Make sure your printed material is available in both English and German. Contracts are strictly followed. You must be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol. Germans are detail- oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement. Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of the company. Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter. Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive. Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

Dress Etiquette
Business dress is understated, formal and conservative. Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses. Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories.

Work and Social Life

English-speaking people find it quite easy to mix their business and social lives, to talk about their jobs at a cocktail party or mix with colleagues in a social setting. Until recently this was not the case in Germany, where business and social life were kept quite separate, and it was even considered inappropriate to discuss ones personal life at work, or work issues in a social environment. American and British people working in German companies were surprised by the way that their colleagues could work together for twenty-five years and never once address each other by their first names, or use the personal pronoun du (the intimate form of you), and by the fact that they might know next to nothing about each others private lives. Things have lightened up since those days, but an element of this remains, particularly among the older generation. To people who are used to forming many of their friendships, and even romantic relationships, with colleagues at the office, this separation of work and social life can be quite frustrating, but for the Germans it is perfectly natural. Quite simply, they have another system. Friendship means something quite special to the Germans and its not a term they use lightly. Most Germans have a small, closely knit circle of friends, and a wider network of acquaintances. Their friendships are generally formed at school and university, and are often quite local. American and British people tend to have more friends, but the relationship is often looser. For the German friendships are made much more slowly, but once made are closer and last for life.

So it is important for visitors to Germany to recognise that friendships are not made quickly or casually, and are not formed in the office. It is also important to remember that the Germans keep private and public life separate.

Comparison between Germany and Romania by Geert Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions

Power distance
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. Highly decentralised and supported by a strong middle class, Germany is not surprisingly among the lower power distant countries (score 35). Co-determination rights are comparatively extensive and have to be taken into account by the management. A direct and participative

communication and meeting style is common, control is disliked and leadership is challenged to show expertise and best accepted when its based on it. Romania scores high on this dimension (score of 90) which means that people accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organization is seen as reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular, subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a benevolent autocrat.

Individualism
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to in groups that take care of them in exchange for loyalty. The German society is a truly individualistic one (67). Small families with a focus on the parent-children relationship rather than aunts and uncles are most common. There is a strong belief in the ideal of self-actualization. Loyalty is based on personal preferences for people as well as a sense of duty and responsibility. This is defined by the contract between the employer and the employee. Communication is among the most direct in the world following the ideal to be honest, even if it hurts and by this giving the counterpart a fair chance to learn from mistakes. Romania, with a score of 30 is considered a collectivistic society. This is manifested in a close long-term commitment to the member 'group', be like a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivist societies offence leads to shame and loss of face, employer/employee relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link), hiring and promotion decisions take account of the employees in-group, management is the management of groups.

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Masculinity / Femininity
A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational behaviour. A low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life. A feminine society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or liking what you do (feminine). With a score of 66 Germany is considered a masculine society. Performance is highly valued and early required as the school system separates children into different types of schools at the age of ten. People rather live in order to work and draw a lot of self-esteem from their tasks. Managers are expected to be decisive and assertive. Status is often shown, especially by cars, watches and technical devices. Romania scores 42 on this dimension and is thus considered a relatively feminine society. In feminine countries the focus is on working in order to live, managers strive for consensus, people value equality, solidarity and quality in their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favoured. Focus is on well-being, status is not shown.

Uncertainty avoidance
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the UAI score. Germany is among the uncertainty avoidant countries (65). In line with the philosophical heritage of Kant, Hegel and Fichte there is a strong preference for deductive rather than inductive approaches, be it in thinking, presenting or planning: the systematic overview has to be given in order to proceed. This is also reflected by the law system. Details are equally important to create certainty that a certain topic or project is well-thought-out. In combination with their low Power Distance, where the certainty for own decisions is not covered by the larger responsibility of the boss, Germans prefer to compensate for their higher uncertainty by strongly relying on expertise.

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Romania scores 90 on this dimension and thus has a very high preference for avoiding uncertainty. Countries exhibiting high uncertainty avoidence maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of unorthodox behaviour and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money, people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an important element in individual motivation.

Long term orientation

The long term orientation dimension is closely related to the teachings of Confucius and can be interpreted as dealing with societys search for virtue,the extent to which a society shows a pragmatic future-oriented perspective rather than a conventional historical short-term point of view. The Germans score 31, making it a short term orientation culture. Societies with a short-term orientation generally exhibit great respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save, strong social pressure to keep up with the Joneses, impatience for achieving quick results, and a strong concern with establishing the Truth i.e. normative. Western societies are typically found at the short-term end of this dimension, as are the countries of the Middle East. No score available for Romania on this dimension.

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Conclusions
If you are planning to visit Germany for recreation or business, it is important to know some of the differences between American culture and German culture. The Germany culture is much more formal than American culture, for example, which has implications for both business and personal relationships. If you do not learn these rules you may come across as disrespectful to Germans

The American work culture is very pragmatic and results-oriented. Companies hire individuals more for their personal results than their academic achievements, which are more important in German culture. German businessmen tend to discuss business issues in great detail before working toward their goals; American businessmen skip over the minor points and work to achieve the most important results as quickly as possible. German culture is much more formal when people address one another. They address most people with their last name instead of first, unless it is their friend or family member. Business introductions are always made by superiors in the business hierarchy to introduce people from a lower level. For instance, a senior manager will always introduce a branch manager to a client. In American culture it is proper for each person to introduce himself. American culture is much more diverse than German culture with regard to race, language, dress and many other differences. Germany is more homogeneous, with a large part of its population having similar cultural backgrounds going back hundreds of years. American culture promoted the rich lifestyle and holds respect for people who earn wealth. German culture, on the other hand, is rather hostile to rich people and many German people assume that wealthy individuals are not trustworthy. Americans are obsessed with comfort and cleanliness. They take daily showers and sometimes multiple showers in a day if they go for a jog or complete a workout. Germans are not nearly as obsessive about showering. According to Regina Netterfield, a German native who has lived in Denver since 1988, the German people typically take a bath about once a week. She says that people are used to smelling stale sweat in Germany but find it appalling in the United States.

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Bibliography :
http://www.germanlanguageguide.com/german/culture/ http://www.mapsofworld.com/germany/about/culture.html http://geert-hofstede.com/germany.html
http://geert-hofstede.com/romania.html

http://www.cactuslanguage.com/en/culturesmart/culture_germany.php http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Germany.html
http://learn-german.upickreviews.com/introduction-to-germany.html

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