Doing business in Germany : a concise guide to understanding Germans and their business practices / Andra Riemhofer.

Includes bibliographies and index.

Chapter 1. Where to locate Germany on the (economic) world map ; Geography and population ; (Industry) clusters and the relevance of the Mittelstand ; Regional peculiarities -- Chapter 2. What you should know about (our) history ; Be aware of biased viewpoints ; Patchwork Central Europe and the power of the church ; "Great" wars and the (first) German Nation ; Nazi Germany and the preliminaries of the Second World War ; The two Germanys of 1949-1990 and beyond -- Chapter 3. What you should know about our economy ; Labor market and employment ; Tings we are (especially) good at ; Talents we might lack ; "Made in Germany" and the dual education system ; The relevance of chambers and trade associations ; How we (like to) spend our money -- Chapter 4. What (else) makes people in Germany tick? ; What we vote for (in life): current issues in politics ; What we (like to) take for granted: security, structures, and status ; What we trust in: plans, rules, and clear-cut directions ; What we (try to) teach our kids: manners and common habits -- Chapter 5. How to talk to Germans ; How culture matters: let's (not just) cut the small talk ; Be aware: tings (that) could get lost in translation -- Chapter 6. What to expect in typical business encounters ; What you should know about German trade shows ; How to arrange for (sales) meetings ; What to consider for face-to-face presentations and online meetings ; RFPs, quotes, and negotiations: how to close the deal with Germans -- Chapter 7. How to maintain (cordial) business relationships ; What the average German understands by "good" relationship ; Varied interpretations of the term "hospitality".

This book aims at helping students and professionals avoid the common pitfalls that international business people typically step into when dealing with Germans for the very first time. Unlike with the other business- or textbooks focusing on culture, this book will do more than just arm you with some simple "Dos and Don'ts"; it will provide interesting and easy-to-understand descriptions and anecdotes that highlight the cultural standards and dimensions that are (typically) theoretically discussed in scientific texts. Essentially, while talking about what makes "the average" German tick, readers will be equipped with the relevant background knowledge. The focus of the book is to help readers understand how certain concepts and values influence the way Germans like to do business. It will guide them on how to successfully interact with Germans, whether at trade shows, during virtual and face-to-face meetings, or when they are negotiating their first contract.

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