German Business Teams

Teamwork in Germany could probably be best described as ‘a group of individuals working to a specific leader towards a recognisable goal.’

Within the team, each member has a set, well-defined role which is adhered to. Lines tend not to be crossed as this could promote confusion. Team members are respected for their technical ability and functional knowledge and are allowed to perform their tasks without too much supervision (which can be seen as an unnecessary intrusion.)

Cross-departmental teams can often prove very difficult to manage, as people are asked to make decisions in a vacuum which might adversely affect their functional area within the hierarchy. Thus decisions made at cross-departmental project group level are often revisited after group members have reported back to their superiors.

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 Germany only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.