1. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EUROPEAN UNION CENTER CHAMPAIGN, URBANA, ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY 29 TH MARCH, 2012

2. CONTENTS Illinois in Europe - From 1968 to current day View of Europe from within Europe and by Americans In the Workplace The Culture Corporate environment Awareness and Consideration The European Manager

3. STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EUROPE’S CAPITAL ESTABLISHED IN 1968 MANDATES: TRADE AND INVESTMENT MARKET AREA: WESTERN EUROPE SECTOR SPECIFIC PROMOTIONAL TOOLS

4. COUNTRY FOCUS AND MOST IMPORTANT MARKETS EUROPE ITSELF HAS THE GREATEST LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN WORLD GERMANY UK FRANCE ITALY BENEXLUX SPAIN NORDIC COUNTRIES

5. EUROPE ACCORDING TO AMERICANS

6. EUROPE ACCORDING TO BRITS

7. EUROPE ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH

8. EUROPE ACCORDING TO ITALIANS

9. EUROPE ACCORDING TO GERMANS Source Andrew Cussack

10. CORPORATE EUROPE - IN THE WORKPLACE GENERALISING Do Europeans get it right within Europe My focus is on 4 European countries GREETING COLLEAGUES Brits/IRISH – Verbal/handshakes Germans – Verbal/handshakes French – Kisses/handshakes (number of kisses) Italians – Verbal/handshakes HIERARCHY AND FORMAL ADDRESS Hierarchy: Titles Brits/IRISH – interaction- UK less formal with titles Germans – interaction- More formal at the beginning French – hierarchical - Always use “vous” titles not important Italians – hierarchical - Keen on titles but OK with first names In countries like Germany, France and Italy, always wait until invited to use first name. NETWORKING Europeans in general are fairly liberal and open to all kinds of topics of conversation in areas such as religion and politics, drugs and sex.

11. CORPORATE EUROPE AND CULTURE TEAM WORK/INDIVIDUALISM Different within countries UK more team work – flat structure France more individualism with a very hierarchical structure - big distance from the shop floor to the boss. Italy more individualism but also working together particularly in family owned companies Germany – individualism with management having a good understanding of all levels of the company PUNCTUALITY Different within countries and early morning starts for meetings are not welcomed. Germans exceptionally punctual Italians can be late but the difference between north and south is striking Brits are punctual French would have a tendency to be politely late LABOUR LAWS INFLUENCE CORPORATE different within countries – EU legislation Employees very much protected in ‘France, Italy and Germany, much less so in the UK VACATIONS Many more days Much longer vacations Total close down of companies during summer months WORKING HOURS AND THE WORKING WEEK Different between European Countries – 37.5 hours MATERNITY/PATERNITY LEAVE – in most European countries very generous and very different to the U.S. The mother is encouraged to stay at home to nurture her new baby. Her re-entry into the workforce is guaranteed.

12. CORPORATE EUROPE DRESS CODE CORPORATE VS PUBLIC SERVICE Smart/casual and suits vs jeans and jumpers (pullovers) Most European countries in the corporate world dress smart/conservative to work France and Italy in public sector dress down including jeans DESIGNER/BRAND NAMES AND WHERE IT MATTERS In certain European countries design matters. Good quality clothing with good quality names Quality over quantity BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS Face to face meetings preferred depending on the importance of the relation Emails are probably the first means of communication Phone calls are important – but you have to get to the boss first. In France very difficult. Relationship building very important in countries like France and Italy Never ask how much someone earns particularly in France. Breakfast meetings don’t go down so well in countries like France, Germany and Italy. Fridays in countries like Germany, Italy and France should be avoided, particularly in the afternoon COMMUNICATION In most written communication a formal approach is the norm. Emails are the most common way of communicating. Writing styles differ in each country. The French and Italians tend to be very long winded.

13. CULTURAL DIVIDE AWARENESS AND CONSIDERATION GLOBAL AWARENESS Today’s Americans Students that travel overseas Global outreach with media tools such as Facebook Striking differences Common Sense

14. EUROMANAGERS AND MARTIANS by Richard Hill “French managers have not yet caught up with the notion that the customer is King” – The Economist If you want creative thinking go to Italy – Belgian production manager British executives can tolerate being proved wrong, unlike we hot-tempered Frenchmen! – Dennis Brulet “In Germany, when someone gets it wrong, nothing happens! You have to bang most Germans on the head to accept the idea to do things differently from what they’re used to. – Belgian marketing director

15. Merci Dankeschön Grazie Thank you QUESTIONS