In Germany, the size of a company usually determines its hierarchical structure. In larger companies, upper management consists of a board of managing directors, vorstand or aufsichtsrat, which makes major decisions. In smaller...

If you are going to be managing in Germany, it's best to spend as much time as possible learning about business practices and customs before you arrive. Your colleagues will appreciate your efforts to do business their way and will...

While your German counterparts will probably expect you to throw yourself a birthday party, you can count on them to bring gifts. Special anniversaries with the company are also times for celebration. Traditionally, many companies...

The German workplace is generally harmony-oriented, in part because there is such an elaborate system of regulations. There’s a strong desire to deal with difficult or sensitive issues clearly, logically, and fairly. Conflicts can...

Germans are avid newspaper readers, and the traveler will soon become familiar with the major ones. Unlike other European countries, there are only four major national newspapers. Learn about each one, including what each covers. If your...

Shopping in Germany can be somewhat baffling because it’s often difficult to predict when a store will or won’t be open. Thankfully, an increasing number of stores are liberalizing their hours. Generally, large stores, supermarkets, and...

Children’s activities tend to keep German parents busy. Unlike schools in many other Western countries, most schools in Germany don’t offer extracurricular or intramural sports or other activities. Anyone wishing to take up a musical...

The overall decision-making process in Germany is from the bottom up. The basics of a plan are developed and added to as the process continues up the hierarchy. This is different from the process in the United States or Great Britain....

Being well prepared for a meeting is an absolute must in Germany. Initial impressions are very important, and your German business associates will be judging you on your dress, posture, and manners. Learn more key guidelines to prepare...

Most Germans speak several languages well and take pride in doing so. They may even prefer to conduct meetings in English. It’s a good idea, though, to determine the language skills of the people you’re meeting. Any material you’ll be...

German manners are usually very formal, especially when people are meeting for the first time. Consequently, introductions in both business and social settings follow strict norms. Learn more about German preferences for etiquette in...

Germans love to shake hands. Certainly a social or business meeting is cause for a round of firm handshaking. You’ll be expected to shake hands with everyone. The handshake is so important that even when someone leaves during a business...

In Germany, the concept of leisure time, or frei zeit, is a unique one that dates back to the Middle Ages. For Germans, leisure time is synonymous with fulfillment and individual freedom. Germans work the least of all the industrialized...

As with many aspects of German culture and society, popular perceptions about German food tend to be off the mark. While Germans still love their potatoes, meat, and sausage, eating habits have changed enormously over the years. Many...

Germany guarantees its people the freedom to practice the religion of their choice; there is no state religion. Protestant and Catholic churches have enjoyed equal status in Germany for centuries. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 recognized...

Germans rely very little on body language, although it is still an important part of communication. In general, they consider hand gestures unnecessary. They focus instead on communicating well verbally. Someone who expresses himself or...

Punktlichkeit! Be on time! Being fashionably late is not appreciated in Germany. Business meetings start right on time and may be cancelled if you’re late by more than fifteen minutes. If you’re running behind, by all means, call ahead....

Most of the holidays in Germany are religious in nature. Some states also have holidays that are unique to their region. Explore the most popular holiday, Christmas, which features celebrations that bring families together and many...

Contrary to the popular view, Germans have a great sense of humor. They love to laugh at themselves, and jokes about the slow Frisians, the thrifty Swabians, and the curious Berliners fill German theaters and cabarets. A good sense of...

Under the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), men and women in Germany are guaranteed equal rights. In reality, women and men don’t receive equal pay. In addition, only a handful of women make it to senior management positions. As in most other...

Everything has its time and place—so the saying goes. In keeping with this expression, Germans expect a certain level of formality in public settings, while private gatherings tend to be far less formal. Germans are big on shaking hands....

The German view of the world has been shaped by the country’s complex, at times turbulent, history and by its position at the geographical heart of Europe. The very idea of a German nation was not even a real possibility until the...

Explore the nuances of the German education system. Though not compulsory, kindergartens provide the first entry into German education. Children then attend the Grund Schule elementary school, which aims to teach basic skills along with...

Germany is located in the heart of Europe and shares borders with nine countries. Explore the terrain, which varies ranging from the northern plains to the Danube Valley and the magnificent German Alps in the south. Germany’s extensive...