Culture can be defined in many ways. It's not just the music and art of a region.

Culture has a broader and more diverse meaning. It's the way a region of people relate to each other and others. The way they eat, speak, spend free time, work, dress, learn and express emotions. Culture is the patterns of behavior and ways of thinking that people living in a particular social group learn and create.

Culture can be defined in many ways. It's not just the music and art of a region. Culture has a broader and more diverse meaning. It's the way a region of people relate to each other and others. The way they eat, speak, spend free time, work, dress, learn and express emotions. Culture is the patterns of behavior and ways of thinking that people living in a particular social group learn and create.

Facts and Statistics

Official Name- Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany) Location: Central Europe Capital: Berlin Area- 356,970 sq km (137,827 sq mi) Population: 82,424,609 (July 2012 est.) Religions: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3% Government: federal republic Currency: Euro Language: official language is German over 95%. Minority languages include Serbian ; several other languages such as French, Danish and English. Major cities- Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt am main, Stuttgart, Munich. Population- 82,017,765

History of Germany
The name Germany is used in three senses: first, it refers to the region in Central Europe commonly regarded as constituting Germany, even when there was no central German state, as was the case for most of Germany's history; second, it refers to the unified German state established in 1871 and existing until 1945; and third, since October 3, 1990, it refers to the united Germany, formed by the accession on this date of the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, or West Germany). The name Federal Republic of Germany refers to West Germany from its founding on May 23, 1949, until German unification on October 3, 1990. After this date, it refers to united Germany. For the sake of brevity and variety, the Federal Republic of Germany is often called simply the Federal Republic.

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)- Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, ruling the country as an absolute director and leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe Albert Einstein (1879 1955)- the father of modern physics . Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics (1921). Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913)- a German inventor and mechanical engineer, famous for the invention of the First Diesel engine. Karl Marx (1818-1883)- Prussian-German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)- German composer and pianist. Karl Benz (1844-1929)- German engine designer and inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile In 1885 he built the world's first working automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. He founded the motor company, Benz u. Co. in 1883

Economy of Germany
Germany is the largest national economy in Europe. The fourth-largest by nominal GDP in the world, and fifth by GDP (PPP) in 2008. Germany is the world's second largest exporter with $1.170 trillion exported in 2009. Among the Fortune Global 500 companies, 37 are headquartered in Germany.

Rank: 5th Fiscal year: calendar year Trade organizations: EU, WTO and OECD GDP: $3.673 trillion GDP per capita Nominal: $44,729 GDP by sector agriculture: 0.9%; industry : 27.1%;services : 72% (2009 est.) Inflation (CPI)1.2% (March 2012) GNI per capita $42,710 (2010) Population below poverty line 11% (2006) Labour force: 43.51 million (2011 est.) Labour force by occupation services (67,5%), industry (29,7%), agriculture (2,4%) (2011) Unemployment 8.5% (March 2011) Main industries iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

International Trade
Exports $ 1.121 trillion (2010 est.) Export goods machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles. Imports $931.3 billion (2009 est.) Import goods machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals FDI stock $1.021 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) Gross external debt $5.208 trillion (30 June 2009)

Public finances
Public debt 77.2% of GDP (2009 est.) Revenues $1.398 trillion (2009 est.) Expenses $1.54 trillion (2009 est.) Foreign reserves $138 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Business Sectors of Germany

Automobile Industry Chemical Industry Mechanical Engineering Industry Medical Technology Textile Industry Mining Industry

Impact of Language VerbalOne word may have different meaning in different countries. For example- in Germany, Drucken means to push or press but it has different meaning in English, where it means to print (Book, newspaper)

Non-Verbal German people prefer to maintain some physical distance among themselves (when they communicate with each other). They maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

I Consciousness

Germany is an individualistic country. It believes in I consciousness compared to We Consciousness. In case of marketing in the Germany, I concept is used rather than We concept. Besides, the managers are strongly product oriented, confident that a good

product will sell itself.

Manners and Customs

Eating customs include: Keeping your hands above the table, not complaining about food, and setting your knife and fork parallel when finished eating or crossing them when pausing. There are no refills for drinks, so any additional drinks are charged to you (this includes water, which you also have to pay for). Some other important customs/manners include: Being on time, using a person's surname unless the person is a good friend, not speaking poorly of German football (soccer), and taking off shoes when entering a home. Like other Europeans, one of their favorite pastimes is football (or soccer).

Values and Attitudes

Very punctual Gift Giving Etiquette If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers. Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received. If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine. Gifts are usually opened when received. Dining Etiquette If you are invited to a German's house: Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early. Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained. Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

Hoftedes Cultural Dimensions

PDI(Power Distance Index) - the PDI score relates to the degree of equality or inequality between people in a country's society. IDV (Individualism) - the individualism score focuses on the degree to which a culture values and reinforces the importance of the individual as opposed to the group. MAS (Masculinity) - masculinity focuses on the degree to which a culture reinforces the traditional role of males vs. females. VAI (Uncertainty Avoidance) - looks at the level of tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity within a culture.

German Literature
Germany is often known as das Land der Dichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinkers) German literature is full of famous authors and poets. Nine Germans have won the Nobel Prize in literature: Theodor Mommsen, Paul von Heyse, Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann, Nelly Sachs, Hermann Hesse, Heinrich Boll, Gunter Grass,and Herta Muller .

Sports in Germany

Sports forms an integral part of German life, as demonstrated by the fact that 27 million Germans are members of a sports club. Football is by far the most popular sport. The German football Federation with more than 6.3 million members is the largest athletic organization in the country. The other two most popular sports in Germany are marksmanship and tennis.

The German Homes

Germans take great pride in their homes. They are kept neat and tidy at all times. The home is the place where one can relax and allow your individualism to shine. Only close friends and relatives are invited into the sanctity of the house. It is the one place where more informal communication may occur. Sidewalks, Pavements, corridors (in apartments), and steps be kept clean at all times.

Business hours and appointment hours

Business hours:
Offices: Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 - 18:00 (with a 1 hour lunch break) Banks: Mondays to Fridays: 08:30 - 13:00 14:30 - 16:00 (on Thursday until 18:00) Stores: Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 - 18:30 Saturdays (shopping centers) 09:00 - 16:00

Appointment hours:
The preferred times for business appointments are between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Avoid scheduling appointments on Friday afternoons, as some offices close by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Dress Etiquette

Business dress is understated, formal and conservative. Men should wear dark colored, conservative business suits. Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses. Do not wear ostentatious jewelry or accessories.

Business Meeting Etiquettes

Meetings are generally formal. Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance. If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be written in German. Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting. Titles are very important and denote respect. In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group. Maintain direct eye contact while speaking. Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings. At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their knuckles on the tabletop. While entering a room: . The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

. Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly equivalent.

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