Danish Business Structures

Denmark, a small country with a population of just over 5 million inhabitants, has achieved a remarkable degree of economic success over the last 50 years or so.

With a very high GDP per head, the country ranks in the top 10 countries in the world (often ahead of both Japan and Germany) in terms of purchasing power. This remarkable economic success has been achieved by the Danes thanks in no small measure to their pragmatic business style.

The Danish approach has many attributes which could be deemed Scandinavian such as a strong egalitarian streak, the need to seek consensus and the attribution of status according to competence rather than class or education. There are also ties of language and history which bind together the three key Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. (Finland being Nordic but not Scandinavian.)

However, there are certain characteristics and approaches to business which are specifically Danish and these differences could be linked to the country’s much closer geographic ties with continental Europe. (The Swedish expression to go to the continent actually refers to going to Denmark.) This country profile will try to highlight some of the characteristics which mark out Denmark as distinct from the other Scandinavian countries – but remember that these are, on the whole, differences in degree rather than very substantive distinctions.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture.  Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Australia only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Denmark only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.