When working with French colleagues on products, understand that they approach quality as something real and recognizable, not merely subjective preference. French culture assumes that quality exists in products as objective characteristics that educated people can perceive and assess.
This means quality can be defined, measured against standards, and demonstrated through evidence. If you claim a product is high-quality, French counterparts will expect to see evidence: What makes it good? How does it compare to standards?
What criteria does it meet? They’ll apply their own judgment and expect their assessment to be meaningful, not arbitrary. This confidence in quality evaluation underlies French investment in standards, appellations, and expert criticism. Don’t treat quality claims as mere marketing; be prepared to demonstrate quality in terms that can be examined and verified.
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