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USA - country profile
Team Alexandra Gogalova - Slovakia Radoslaw
Stepnik - Poland Roger Schmitt - Germany
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USA - country profileAgenda
Structure 1. About the USA 1.1 Intro 1.2 History
1.3 Some facts and backgrounds 2. The
US-culture 2.1 Hofstedes 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 profileHistory

• Original inhabitants
• Indians
• 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America
• Since 16th century settling through European
  immigrants
• Colonial time (France, Spain and England)
• Independence fight (Independence Day 4th July
  1776)
• Civil war (North against South 1861 1865)
• Abolition of the slavery 1865
• Rose slowly to the economic giant (19th 20th
  century)
• Market Crash New York (25.10.1929) and world
  economic crisis
• Different wars (First and Second World War,
  Vietnam, Iraq, etc.)
• Attack on the World Trade Center (11.09.2001) ?
  Afghanistan, Iraq

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USA - country profileSome facts and backgrounds

• Today
• Federal States 50

Seal of the USA

• Population figure 295,734,134 (July 2005)
• Density 30 inhabitants per km²
• Capital Washington D.C.
• Language No official language but mostly
  American English

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USA - country profileSome facts and backgrounds

• Today
• Languages 82.1 English, 10.7 Spanish, 3.8
  Indo-European, 2.7 Asian and Pacific island,
  0.7 others (2000)
• Biggest town New York (8,108,000 inhabitants)
• Form of government Democratic federal republic
• President George W. Bush
• Currency US-Dollar
• National anthem The Star-Spangled Banner
• Religion 54 Protestants, 25 Catholics, 10
  no religious conviction, 3
  orthodox, 3 Jewish, 2 Mormons (2004)
• Economy Biggest political economy of the world -
  GPD 11,728 bn (2004) 73
  tertiary, 23 secondary, 4 primary sector
• National sports American Football, Baseball,
  Basketball, Ice hockey

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USA - country profilePower Distance Index (PDI)

• Power Distance Index
• In USA with a ranking of 40, compared with a
  world average of 55
• Hierarchy in organizations means an inequality of
  roles, established for convenience
• Decentralization is popular
• Narrow salary range between top and bottom of
  organization
• The middle class is large
• Power is based on formal position, expertise
• The ideal boss is a resourceful democrat

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USA - country profileIndividualism (IDV)

• Individualism
• In USA with a ranking of 91, compared with a
  world average of 43
• The highest level of IDV among listed countries
• Individualistic attitude
• Loose bonds with others
• Relationship employer-employee is a contract
  supposed to be based on mutual advantage
• Hiring and promotion decisions are supposed to be
  based on skills and rules only
• Everyone has a right to privacy
• Everyone is expected to have a private opinion
• Laws and rights are supposed to be the same for
  all

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USA - country profileMasculinity vs. Femininity

• Masculinity vs. Femininity
• In USA with a ranking of 62, compared with a
  world average of 50
• This indicates the country experiences a higher
  degree of gender differentiation of roles
• The male dominates a significant portion of the
  society and power structure
• Masculine societies tend to see men as assertive
  and women as nurturing
• Competitive behavior
• Strong are admired
• Material values are important
• Work is sense of living

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
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 profileMasculinity vs. Femininity

• Masculinity vs. Femininity
• Not so many women in management position
• Resolving international conflicts by fighting
• Positive correlation between masculinity and
  Defense spending as a percentage of GNP
• Big and fast are beautiful
• Men don't show their emotions
• Sexual harassment is a big issue
• Sex and violence in newspapers and on TV
• Advertising is part of lives of Americans
• Maintenance of economic growth should have
  highest priority

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USA - country profile Uncertainty Avoidance

• Uncertainty Avoidance
• With a ranking of 46, compared to the world
  average of 64
• Fewer rules
• Open to innovations, risk, etc.
• Students prefer open-ended learning situations
  and discussions
• Tolerance, moderation
• Citizen protest acceptable

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USA - country profile Uncertainty Avoidance

• Uncertainty Avoidance
• Tend to accept competition and conflict, tolerate
  dissent and deviance.
• Many nurses, few doctors
• Human rights nobody should be persecuted for
  their beliefs
• Positive attitudes towards young people
• Scientific opponents can be personal friends
• Tolerant political ideologies
• Employees tend to change jobs more frequently

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USA - country profileLong term orientation

• Long term orientation
• The lowest dimension for the US at 29, compared
  to the world average of 45
• This low LTO ranking is indicative of the
  societies' belief in meeting its obligations and
  tends to reflect an appreciation for cultural
  traditions.
• Change can occur more rapidly as long-term
  traditions and commitments do not become
  impediments to change.
• A sense of security and stability, a protection
  of ones reputation, a respect for tradition, and
  a reciprocation of greetings favors and gifts.

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USA - country profileThe pattern of business
behavior

• The pattern of business behavior (R. Gesteland)
• 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
• Rigid-time culture (monochronic)
• punctuality
• fixed agendas
• schedules
• meetings are rarely interrupted

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USA - country profileThe pattern of business
behavior

• The pattern of business behavior (R. Gesteland)
• Informal culture
• supposed to value status equality
• 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 profileTo negotiate in the USA

• To negotiate in the USA
• Time is money
• American dream
• Communication
• Meals and Business
• Lawyers
• Regional subcultures
• Money is key priority

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USA - country profileTo negotiate in the USA

• To negotiate in the USA
• FUN, FUN, FUN!
• Women in management
• Language
• Opportunity
• Work time
• Give and take
• Knowledge of other cultures
• Protection of rights by law in the workplace

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USA - country profileTo negotiate in the USA

• To negotiate in the USA
• Punctuality
• Business dress
• Smoking
• Informality
• Flexibility
• Addressing
• The way of greeting
• Small talk

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USA - country profileTo negotiate in the USA

• To negotiate in the USA
• Welcome Topics
• Sports
• Food
• Music
• Topics to avoid
• Religion
• Politics
• Controversial subjects (racism, sexism...)
• Personal matters

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USA - country profileClass opinion

• Class opinion
• Questions
• Do you like the Americans and American culture?
• Would you like to adopt the American lifestyle?
• What you like and dont like about the Americans?
• Results
• The majority answered YES to the first questions.
  Some respondents added that they do not think
  there is a notion of the American culture.
• Only ONE person would like to adopt the American
  lifestyle
• Positive and negative feelings about the Americans

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USA - country profileConclusion
Conclusion
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USA - country profileSources
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 profileThanks
Thank you for your attention! And