Understanding Cultural Differences

Understand German and French cultures for better business



Human resource management, at home and abroad, means assisting the corporation's most valuable asset - its people - to function effectively. Edward T. and Mildred Reed Hall contribute to this effort by explaining the cultural context in which corporations in Germany, France, and the United States operate and how this contributes to misunderstandings between business personnel from each country.

Then they offer new insights and practical advice on how to manage day-to-day transactions in the international business arena. Understanding Cultural Differences echoes and elaborates on Edward T. Hall's classic studies in intercultural relations, The Silent Language and The Hidden Dimension. It is a valuable guide for business executives from the three countries and a model of cross-cultural analysis.

Edward T. Hall is a respected anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher who has taught at various universities across the U.S., including Harvard Business School, Northwestern University, the University of Denver, and others. With extensive experience in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Hall worked for the U.S. State Department teaching intercultural communication skills to Foreign Service personnel and wrote several groundbreaking works in culture, communication, and the study of proxemics, including The Silent Language, The Hidden Dimension, The Dance of Life, and Beyond Culture. Hall currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.