Doing Business: Belgium & the Netherlands, the difference compared

www.culturematters.com

Andreas ter Woort

Doing Business: Belgium & the Netherlands, the difference

compared

http://www.culturematters.com/


Who am I ?Name: Andreas ter

WoortNationality: Dutch

“if you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much!”

House: Windmill

Where: Below sea level

Cloths: Wooden shoes and traditional dressSo… What's the point…?

So… What's the point…?



“It is our believe that you can never understand

OTHER cultures” Fons Trompenaars

But there is hopeAndreas ter Woort





In the narrow sense: “Civilisation”(Art, Science, Education)

In the broad anthropological sense:“Collective programming of the human mind”

What is CULTURE ? What is CULTURE ?



A way in which a group of people solve problems and reconcile dilemmas

What is CULTURE ? What is CULTURE ?





Common to all Common to all mankindmankind

Human mind programmed by Human mind programmed by heredity and experience in 3 levelsheredity and experience in 3 levels

CollectiveCollectiveby groupby group

IndividualIndividual



Symbols

Heroes

Rituals

Values

CultureCulture



Symbols

Heroes

Rituals

Values

CultureCulture



The 4-D Model

WI

PG

HI

0 50 100

AA

Low High

Low High

Low High

Low High

Value differences between countries can be explained by four dimensions of national culture.



We’re all equal…But are we?



1. Dealing with hierarchy

hierarchy low being independent hierarchy for

convenience equal rights superiors accessible

hierarchy high

being dependent hierarchy is

existential privileges superiors

inaccessible



NETHERLANDS JAPAN UK NORWAY BELGIUM

Which culture scores a) highest b) lowest

on HIERARCHY?



Which culture scores a) highest b) lowest

on HIERARCHY?

NETHERLANDS

38

JAPAN

54

UK

35

NORWAY

31

BELGIUM

68



What makes a good neighbour, and how do you respect your neighbour?

2. Dealing with relationships



2. Dealing with relationships

"We" cultures

the group: “We” opinion of the group implicit

communication loss of ‘face’, shame relationship oriented

"I" cultures

the individual: “Self” individual opinions explicit communication loss of self-respect, guilt task oriented



Which culture is a) the most ‘I’ orientedb) the most ‘WE’ oriented ?

U.S.A. JAPAN PORTUGAL BELGIUM NETHERLANDS



Which culture is a) the most ‘I’ orientedb) the most ‘WE’ oriented ?

U.S.A.

91

JAPAN

46

PORTUGAL

27

BELGIUM

75

NETHERLANDS

80



“Employee of the Month!!!”

reward or punishment?

3. Dealing with one's role in society

ConsensusOr

Decisive ?



Reward!



Or punishment???



Which culture is a) the most “Consensus” seeking b) the most “Decisive” ?

NL SWEDEN JAPAN UK BELGIUM



NL

14

SWEDEN

5

JAPAN

95

UK

66

BELGIUM

54

Which culture is a) the most “Consensus” seeking b) the most “Decisive” ?



Bungee Jumping:

Certain or not?

4. Dealing with Uncertainty



Which culture requires a) most structure and detailb) least structure and detail?

NETHERLANDS Belgium Czech Rep. GB GERMANY



NETHERLANDS

50

Belgium

94

Czech Rep.

71

GB

35

GERMANY

65

Which culture requires a) most structure and detailb) least structure and detail?



Action & Implementation

Time

Actio

n

Germany

Dutch

American / UK

Belgium



Manager's role varies across culturesSource : André Laurent

20 30 40 50 6010 7080 % Percentage in agreement

Great Britain

SwedenNetherlandsUSADenmark

SwitzerlandBelgiumGermanyFranceItalyIndonesiaJapan

17182327

384446

5366

7378

17182327

384446

5366

7378

“It is important for a managerto have at hand precise answers tomost of the questions that hissubordinates may raise about their work”

10



Respect / Dis-respect for Hierarchy Rules / General guidelines Formality / Act normal Performance versus performance …

Implication for communication Between Netherlands& Belgium



Scores compared (BE - NL)


Practical tips for Dutch

Be less direct Do not make jokes. Really… Ready to spend more time on relationship building Respect hierarchy Listen (in other words, shut up for once!) Detail, detail, detail (also legal!)



“Everything that irritates us about others…can lead us to an understandingof ourselves.”

Carl Jung



Want to know more? Visit: www.culturematters.com

orwww.culturebriefing.com

Thank you!Andreas.terWoort@culturematter

s.com


Documents

Doing Business: Belgium & the Netherlands, the difference compared