USA - country profile
Team:
Alexandra Gogalova - Slovakia
Radoslaw Stepnik - Poland
Roger Schmitt - Germany
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USA - country profile
Agenda
Structure
1. About the USA
1.1 Intro
1.2 History
1.3 Some facts and backgrounds
2. The US-culture
2.1 Hofstede´s dimensions
2.2 Gesteland - The pattern of business behavior
3. To negotiate in the USA
4. Class opinion
5. Conclusion
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Born in the USA
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USA - country profile
History
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Original inhabitants
Indians
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1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America
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Since 16th century settling through European immigrants
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Colonial time (France, Spain and England)
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Independence fight (Independence Day 4th July 1776)
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Civil war (North against South 1861 – 1865)
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Abolition of the slavery 1865
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Rose slowly to the economic giant (19th – 20th century)
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Market Crash New York (25.10.1929) and world economic crisis
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Different wars (First and Second World War, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.)
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Attack on the World Trade Center (11.09.2001)  Afghanistan, Iraq
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USA - country profile
Some facts and backgrounds
Today
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Federal States: 50
Seal of the USA
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Population figure: 295,734,134 (July 2005)
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Density: 30 inhabitants per km²
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Capital: Washington D.C.
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Language: No official language but mostly American English
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USA - country profile
Some facts and backgrounds
Today
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Languages: 82.1 % English, 10.7 % Spanish, 3.8 % Indo-European,
2.7 % Asian and Pacific island, 0.7 % others (2000)
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Biggest town: New York (8,108,000 inhabitants)
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Form of government: Democratic federal republic
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President: George W. Bush
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Currency: US-Dollar
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National anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
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Religion: 54 % Protestants, 25 % Catholics, 10 % no religious conviction,
3 % orthodox, 3 % Jewish, 2 % Mormons (2004)
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Economy: Biggest political economy of the world - GPD 11,728 $ bn (2004)
73 % tertiary, 23 % secondary, 4 % primary sector
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National sports: American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Ice hockey
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USA - country profile
Power Distance Index (PDI)
Power Distance Index
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In USA with a ranking of 40, compared with a world average of 55
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Hierarchy in organizations means an inequality of roles, established for
convenience
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Decentralization is popular
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Narrow salary range between top and bottom of organization
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The middle class is large
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Power is based on formal position, expertise
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The ideal boss is a resourceful democrat
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USA - country profile
Individualism (IDV)
Individualism
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In USA with a ranking of 91, compared with a world average of 43
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The highest level of IDV among listed countries
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Individualistic attitude
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Loose bonds with others
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Relationship employer-employee is a contract supposed to be based on
mutual advantage
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Hiring and promotion decisions are supposed to be based on skills and
rules only
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Everyone has a right to privacy
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Everyone is expected to have a private opinion
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Laws and rights are supposed to be the same for all
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USA - country profile
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Masculinity vs. Femininity
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In USA with a ranking of 62, compared with a world average of 50
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This indicates the country experiences a higher degree of gender
differentiation of roles
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The male dominates a significant portion of the society and power structure
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Masculine societies tend to see men as assertive and women as nurturing
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Competitive behavior
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Strong are admired
Italy
42 days
France
37 days
Germany
35 days
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Material values are important
Brazil
34 days
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Work is sense of living
United Kingdom
28 days
Canada
26 days
Korea
25 days
Japan
25 days
U.S.
13 days
Source:
www.infoplease.com
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USA - country profile
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Masculinity vs. Femininity
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Not so many women in management position
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Resolving international conflicts by fighting
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Positive correlation between masculinity and Defense spending as a
percentage of GNP
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Big and fast are beautiful
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Men don't show their emotions
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Sexual harassment is a big issue
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Sex and violence in newspapers and on TV
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Advertising is part of lives of Americans
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Maintenance of economic growth should have highest priority
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USA - country profile
Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty Avoidance
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With a ranking of 46, compared to the world average of 64
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Fewer rules
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Open to innovations, risk, etc.
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Students prefer open-ended learning situations and discussions
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Tolerance, moderation
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Citizen protest acceptable
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USA - country profile
Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty Avoidance
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Tend to accept competition and conflict, tolerate dissent and deviance.
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Many nurses, few doctors
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Human rights: nobody should be persecuted for their beliefs
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Positive attitudes towards young people
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Scientific opponents can be personal friends
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Tolerant political ideologies
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Employees tend to change jobs more frequently
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USA - country profile
Long term orientation
Long term orientation
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The lowest dimension for the US at 29, compared to the world average of
45
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This low LTO ranking is indicative of the societies' belief in meeting its
obligations and tends to reflect an appreciation for cultural traditions.
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Change can occur more rapidly as long-term traditions and commitments do
not become impediments to change.
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A sense of security and stability, a protection of one’s reputation, a respect
for tradition, and a reciprocation of greetings; favors and gifts.
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USA - country profile
The pattern of business behavior
The pattern of business behavior (R. Gesteland)
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Deal focused culture (task-oriented)
 contact with prospective buyer without any previous relationship or
connection
 getting down to business
 rely on written agreements
 direct language and low-context communication
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Rigid-time culture (monochronic)
 punctuality
 fixed agendas
 schedules
 meetings are rarely interrupted
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USA - country profile
The pattern of business behavior
The pattern of business behavior (R. Gesteland)
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Informal culture
 supposed to value status equality
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Variably expressive culture
 verbal (clear way)
 paraverbal (loudly, avoid silence)
 nonverbal (distance behavior 40 to 60 cm , variable touch behavior, firm
eye contact)
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USA - country profile
To negotiate in the USA
To negotiate in the USA
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“Time is money”
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American dream
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Communication
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Meals and Business
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Lawyers
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Regional subcultures
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Money is key priority
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USA - country profile
To negotiate in the USA
To negotiate in the USA
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FUN, FUN, FUN!
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Women in management
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Language
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Opportunity
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Work time
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Give and take
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Knowledge of other cultures
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Protection of rights by law in the workplace
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USA - country profile
To negotiate in the USA
To negotiate in the USA
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Punctuality
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Business dress
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Smoking
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Informality
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Flexibility
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Addressing
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The way of greeting
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Small talk
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USA - country profile
To negotiate in the USA
To negotiate in the USA
Welcome Topics
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Sports
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Food
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Music
Topics to avoid
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Religion
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Politics
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Controversial subjects (racism, sexism...)
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Personal matters
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USA - country profile
Class opinion
Class opinion
Questions:
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Do you like the Americans and American culture?
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Would you like to adopt the American lifestyle?
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What you like and don’t like about the Americans?
Results:
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The majority answered YES to the first questions. Some respondents added
that they do not think there is a notion of the American culture.
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Only ONE person would like to adopt the American lifestyle
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Positive and negative feelings about the Americans
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USA - country profile
Conclusion
Conclusion
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USA - country profile
Sources
Sources:
Gesteland, R. (1999) Patterns of Cross-Cultural Business Behavior
Hofstede, G. (1991) Cultures and Organizations – Software of the mind
Hofstede, G. (1998) Masculinity and Femininity
Financial Times (18th July, 2nd and 15th August, 2000)
www.executiveplanet.com
wikipedia.org
www.cia.gov
www.geert-hofstede.com
www.usa.de
www.cnn.com
www.infoplease.com
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USA - country profile
Thanks
Thank you for your attention!
And…
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