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When Business Cultures Collide…Do Germans and Americans Understand Each Other?

Monday, Mar 29, 2010

3 top German executives whose companies successfully breached the cultural divide, joined author John Magee, a specialist in integrating Germans and American executives, in a lively panel discussion, sparking insightful audience participation. The panelists described their surprise at their early meetings here in the States – the Americans dressed too casual, or the Americans were all show, no substance, or the American’s overly praised mediocre work. The Americans found the Germans infuriatingly focused on details and caution, or found them too formal etc. But as they each came to understand the other culture, they began to see the logic and wisdom behind some of these “foreign” culture clashes. The basic message: wait, listen, don’t judge, learn, succeed.