Strategy and Tactics
Germans, those leading as well as those being led, prefer generally formulated, mission oriented tasks. The mission addresses more the what and less the how. Responsibilitiy for the how lies with the implementer on the tactical level.
Strategy Formulation
Germans believe that important decisions should be reached via consensus. Ideally within the entire team, but at least among its key members. Once made, those decisions are best implemented when communicated, understood and accepted by the broader organization.
Strategy Modification
Germans expect room to interpret decisions when implementing them. In many situations deviation from an assigned task is unavoidable, thus both accepted and expected by leadership. In certain situations Germans will deviate considerably from a decision which they, as experts on the ground, judge to be unwise, counterproductive, or harmful to the business.
Lines of Communication
Because Germans, those leading as well as those being led, prefer generally formulated, mission oriented tasks (more what, less how), they maintain longer lines of communication: less interaction, less frequent status meetings, fewer iterations on tactical issues.
Back to Germany.
