I am an American, living and working in Germany for nearly four years.
Last October I left the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany to join
Deutsche Telekom AG, where I am in the international strategic planning
unit.
As my company faces growing competition at home, and becomes itself a
global player in the world of telecommunications, re-thinking the way we
do business is a daily necessity. As other companies who have gone
international quickly learn, the corporate cultures between countries
differ enormously. No where is the need to understand these cultural
differences more important in the rapidly changing Telecommunications
industry. Deutsche Telekom has had a history of working closely with
American companies in the past, and yet the learning curve never ends.
Hence my question to American managers:
What is it that makes the American business culture unique and different
from European business culture?
What would be your single most important message to a senior European
business executive to help her or him in communicating efffectively with
an American audience?
Do you have any useful anecdotes or references that shed light on the
American corporate mentality?
I'd like to hear your thoughts.
-- Andrew C. Luedders Bonn, Germany Tel: +49 228 36 61 77 Fax: +49 228 181-48629 email: INTERNET:100564.461@compuserve.com