1. Assignment #1 Comparing Crosscultural Profiles
Johannes Hesse, International Logistics and Economics Year 1 06.02.2013

2. Germany: (my own profile)
monochronic polychronic
being doing past future
high-context low-context private public
competitive cooperative hierarchy equality
individualism collectivism

3. Monochronic vs polychonic:
Iam concentrate on the job/ task and also committed
Past vs future:
I am more future oriented. The past is also important for me cuz I made many experiences in the
last five years
Private vs public:
In Germany it is normal that you dont share you office for example as a manager or a position like
that
Hierarchy vs equality:
I like it when I am working at a task and the positions are clear structured (everybody knows what
to do and one person is like a leader). It is easier to make decisions (but normaly in Germany it is
the other way around)
Individualism vs Collectivism:
I want to go my own way, the way which I think is the best
Copetitive vs cooperative:
(in the case of sport) Competitive is the reason why I alway try to give the best. I love it to play on
top and to be one of the best in my area/ field
High or low context:
It is important for me how poaple talk to me, in which situation, what and where
Beeing vs doing:
It is important for me to finsih my set goals, also to work on it and get senses of achievements. It
is less important what people think about me. Iam what I am ;)

4. Switzerland:
monochronic polychronic
being doing past future
high-context low-context private public
competitive cooperative hierarchy equality
individualism collectivism

5. Monochronic vs polychonic:
I think the swiss people (hardworking culture) are well organized and also concentrated on their
task/jobs
Past vs future:
I think they are future oriented, they did not except the €, they did not join the EU etc.
>> they want to be indipendent
Private vs public:
I think it is like in Germany, they give a lot on privacy
Hierarchy vs equality:
I only know that the switzerland is a democratic country, so I think they tendent more to the
equality site
Individualism vs Collectivism:
They swim against the tide (EU,€ etc)
Copetitive vs cooperative:
They do not search any competion (neutral)
High or low context:
I do not know people of this country personal but I think they are more focused on the details in a
sentence (words)
Beeing vs doing:
I think the give a lot on their image. The switzerland is be known for a country where people like
to live luxery

6. monochronic polychronic
being doing past future
high-context low-context private public
competitive cooperative hierarchy equality
individualism collectivism
my cultural profile
cultural profile switzerland

7. Similarities:
•Monochronic polychronic
•Private public
Differences:
•high-context low-context
•being doing (swiss people looking more on their image)
•hierarchy equality (because of my personal opinion)
What are the critical issues for you?
I think it depends on each person. My cultural porfile doesn‘t say that every German/ Swiss person is like this
(sterotype). So it is very hard to compare these two profiles.
How would I deal with differences?
I think I would not have any problems in the Switzerland. I am very flexible. But in one point I have to take
care. If swiss people say something to me, I could missunderstand it. (high against low context culture)

8. Sources:
•http://www.fremdenverkehrsbuero.info/images/welt/europa-kontinent.png
•http://www.perspektive-mittelstand.de/img/378x186/Artikel/Au%C3%9Fenhandel-
deutschland-schweiz_101018g.jpg
•http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html
•http://www.geert-hofstede.com/
•http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/site-map/worl+business+culture