Cross Culture Differences

1. Cross Culture Differences Candice James – Japan John Eddington – Spain Andrew James – France Elisabeth Ebner – Italy

2. Japan – Watari Sumida • First language – Japanese • Japanese Culture • Women’s status in the workforce is improving or becoming equal to that of men, but traditional views of male dominance are still present. There is equal pay for both genders. • Benefits in Japan include paid vacation, but many workers do not use it; insistent on being at work. Most businesses give a summer and winter bonus. Health insurance is provided by the government, with workers paying only 30% for medical bills. • Managers focus on a hierarchal manner, a pyramid structure where managers are on top and employees are below them. Not horizontal management. • Within the workplace, many workers are very focused and have the company’s success and interest at heart.

3. Japan cont. • Cultural differences including food, language, personalities, and equal status of social groups (genders, races) • Marketing advice – In Japan, presentation is everything. This includes packaging and advertising methods. Sometimes, the package can cost as much as the actual product.

4. Columbia Ana Arias • First Language - - Spanish • Education is very important • More women are in college • Companies have more benefits in Columbia. • 2 to 6 weeks of vacation is offered • Each employee receives 2 months of pay twice a year. • Managers expect you to stay after 5 to work you are looked down on if you do not. • Dress is very formal at all times at work.

5. Columbia cont. • People take time to say hello and goodbye here they do not. • Be on time and very formal for a managers job in Columbia. • Learn the language of any country you visit. • Need to know the culture and what to do and not to do in given situations.

6. France: Florian Leroy • First language: French • Women are paid less for the same jobs in the workplace, like the U.S. • Some of the benefits: 5 weeks vacation, Universal Health Care, 16 weeks maternity leave, unemployment benefits (80% of salary the first year) • 35 hours a week with 1 hour lunch

7. France cont. • There is a minimum wage. • Employee treatment depends on the person and company. • Most difficult thing to adapt to: air conditioning • Advice: Know and speech French and labeling and instructions most be good French. • Some setting are more formal, others are laxed.

8. Italy – Gregor Grossrubatscher • First languages – Italian/German • Since WW2 more and more women are working. The situation for them is improving, although they still get less paid than their male colleagues. Most of the top management positions are hold by men, but since now over 50% of all students at Italian Universties are women, this will change in the near future. • - Benefits: Unemployed persons can receive a contributory unemployment insurance benefit for a maximum period of six months.- 5 weeks vacation- 5 months maternity including 1 month pre-birth and additional 10 months parental leave

9. Italy cont. • - Health care in Italy is provided by the National Health System (a government-funded institution that provides medical care) • gap between managers and there workforce is huge -> labor union and strikes • Food -> not used to Fast FoodPeople: friendly but superficial • don‘t make advertisments in English only, as many people don‘t understand English very well.