Germans pay attention to scope—addressing problems at the appropriate level rather than too locally or too centrally. Local problems warrant local solutions from those who understand the specific circumstances. Systemic problems require coordination at higher levels. Getting this match wrong leads to either over-centralization (imposing distant solutions on local situations) or under-coordination (failing to address problems that exceed local capacity).
When working with Germans, expect attention to jurisdictional appropriateness. Who should be solving this? At what level should decisions be made?
These aren’t power struggles but genuine questions about problem structure. Demonstrate understanding of appropriate scope, and be prepared to either take ownership of problems within your remit or escalate appropriately to those with broader scope and authority.
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