Sino-German Intercultural Management

Digitalization changes the form of business enormously as well as our working conditions. The business world is becoming a huge framework consisting of humans, machines and digits where we have the double role of system builders and at the same time being part of the framework. During the dynamic phases of change, we have to adapt to the new environment and create added value in order to survive in the challenging competition of the business world. Where are our chances in this new work environment to match machines and digits? How can we develop even more advantages? In this chapter, we analyse the working conditions in this new age and focus especially on promoting the intercultural potential of persons in the global challenge. The ability to maintain good cooperation between partners is most certainly a big advantage. Taking into consideration the cultural factors, it enables us not only to achieve higher productivity of companies but also to uphold the work-life balance in a time of encompassing effects on global business.

Culture represents the new added value in the digital business age. Every country has a different mindset. Knowledge about the thinking and behaviour patterns of staff members from other cultures helps to create a constructive communication flow and to perfect the virtual teamwork. Intercultural management starts with the management of knowledge. Culture is know-how, and with conscious efforts it can be significantly advanced. The skill of intercultural expertise enables you to create communication channels with foreign business partners and to establish a trustful and sustainable partnership. The process to achieve intercultural awareness contains four major steps: mindfulness, perception, perspective and action. For each step, you will find exercises with an image analysis. They provide a better understanding how to perceive occurrences in foreign countries. The main goal is the self-organized learning process and the improvement of the personal ability to deal with strangeness. Each example provides information about a specific cultural background and a customized pattern of local work practices.

The road to success of international projects is not always smooth. What could be the stumbling blocks in international transactions? How to ensure a better coordination and cooperation between the parent company and its branches abroad? Which factors have to be taken into account when stimulating international team spirit? In 2018, a comparative study of the office work culture was conducted in Germany and China. The key topic of this research project was the identification of culture-related and therefore self-evident ways of each country, in other words, the people’s guidelines when handling transactions. All participants in this study came from industry sectors that cooperate on an international level. The focus of this survey is on country-specific work concepts and behaviour patterns in both countries during everyday business. The field study documents business practices, cultural traits and the personal perceptions of the staff in both offices. The results obtained will help to pave the way to a perfect global teamwork.

The input of knowledge is of great importance when acquiring the competence of intercultural management. Real skills, however, can only be appropriated by practical experience. This tutorial section shows three case studies of day-to-day business with situations that happened during a transaction. At the same time, they provide a profound insight into the respective mentality. The selected topics, such as team leadership, relationship management, communication and local work practices, expand the intercultural expertise as a whole. This is a well-constructed learning session combining background stories, possible options for action, handling techniques and, last but not least, examples for self-training. It particularly promotes the ability of self-organization and self-reflexion. The primary purpose is to create a proper toolbox suitable for your individual personality and your own style. The case studies teach you how to analyse situations and find possible solutions on your own. You learn how to apply the lessons learned in your own workplace for the benefit of your own success.