Business Cultures In Europe

"A very clever management book." - John Cleese Praised by Business Week as "invaluable political and psychological profiles of each nationality ... a wonderfully entertaining view of others as well a ourselves" and named a Financial Times Business Book of the Year, Mind Your Manners has become a 50,000-copy bestseller and the standard guide to European business cultures for over a decade. Now in a fully expanded and updated third edition, this practical guide contains a further fifteen country chapters including all the additional countries - from the Baltics to the Balkans - becoming a members of the European Union, the world's biggest global market. This major new edition comprehensively covers no fewer than thirty-three different business cultures including non-EU Norway, Switzerland, Russia and America.

Major changes which have occurred since this book was first published have been included in this edition. In particular, the chapter on Germany has been substantially revised and now includes a separate section on easter Germany. The other five countries covered in the book have also witnessed changes in their business culture and these have been taken into consideration. This book examines the background to business practice in Europe of six major countries: Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands. Each chapter tracks the commercial development of that country in the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, focusing on the business environment, special features affecting business, and the response to the EC's single market. The business culture section in each is divided further into business and government, business and the economy, business and the law, business and finance, business and the labour market, business and trade unions and business training, education and development. The test is organized in such a manner to enable cross-referencing between countries, and maps have been included in the new edition.

This book explores the way that culture and societal values impact the economies of eight European countries, focussing on businesses and their organisation and management processes. With contributions from skilled authors that cover Central, Eastern and Northern Europe, and particularly Russia, Germany, and Scandinavia, this collection provides a broad understanding of how business is conducted within the different countries of peripheral Europe. The book seeks to examine the influence of culture on business, and more specifically the interaction between national and corporate cultures. It will be of great interest to researchers interested in international business, cross-cultural management, and business organisation.

Introduction : the transition towards the market economy / Milford Bateman -- The business culture in the Czech Republic / Martin Dangerfield -- The business culture in Hungary / Vincent Edwards -- The business culture in Poland / George Blazyca -- The business culture in Croatia and Slovenia / Will Bartlett and Milford Bateman -- The business culture in Russia / Marta Bruno -- The business culture in Kazakhstan / Martin Taylor --Compartive analysis of Eastern European business cultures / Milford Bateman.

In Central and Eastern Europe, the 'Old Europe' of cobblestones co-exists with mobile phones, horse carts fight for road space with cars, and farmers' markets compete with mega-stores. Western business professionals hoping to expand or start up new ventures in this complex environment must possess knowledge that is both comprehensive and subtle. What is it like to live and work in Central and Eastern Europe? How is business conducted there? What happened in Central and Eastern Europe to make integration into the rest of Europe so difficult? What important social and cultural issues must be mastered by Westerners hoping to flourish in this region? 'Succeeding in Business in Central and Eastern Europe', the fourteenth title in the 'Managing Cultural Differences Series' answers these and many other questions. This book identifies a variety of factors, including an anti-business attitude and a resistance to Western-style change, that hinder some attempts at development within Central and Eastern Europe. It provides a frame of reference for understanding the "post-Soviet syndrome" - with its remnants of corruption and mistrust of managers and customers alike - that continues to haunt the countries of CEE. Dr. Sears and Ms. Tamulionyte-Lentz give readers solutions for overcoming the problems inherent in this region. They explain how Western executives can build relationships and find point of cultural "synthesis" with their Central and Eastern European counterparts and ultimately create a new and mutually beneficial work culture with their ventures. With understanding and insights on the cultural nuances of the region, 'Succeeding in Business in Central and Eastern Europe' can help all Western visitors, even tourists, who arrive at this increasingly popular destination.

The social, economic and political perspectives of selected countries in East and West Europe are examined in this volume. It analyses the cultural differences between countries, their origins and the impact they have on the conduct of business.