Managers from this country. Unit 1. Business across cultures

Unit 1. Business across cultures

 

International Business Styles

 

Task 1. Read the following text. Pay attention to the words in a bold type and write down their translations.

The characteristics of management often vary according to national culture, which can determine how managers are trained, how they lead people and how they approach their jobs.

The amount of responsibility of any individual in a company depends on the position that he or she occupies in its hierarchy. Managers, for example, are responsible for leading the people directly under them, who are called subordinates. To do this successfully, they must use their authority, which is the right to take decisions and give orders. Managers often delegate authority. This means that employees at tower levels in the company hierarchy can use their initiative, that is make decisions without asking their manager.

 

Task 2. Read the portraits of managers in five different countries and decide which country each one corresponds to. Choose from the following countries:

Germany

Poland

Sweden

The United Kingdom

The United States

Managers from this country

· consider professional and technical skills to be very important

· have a strong sense of authority

· respect the different positions in the hierarchy of their companies

· clearly define how jobs should be done

· are very loyal to their companies and expect their subordinates to obey them

· are often older than in other countries.