Deutsch
German Approach
If processes govern the inner workings of a company, whoever has the say about those processes determines how the work is done. Germans strive to have the say about processes. Patterns
American Approach
Because Americans are less inclined to view processes and procedures as governing the inner workings of a company, having the say is seldeom the forum where battles over power and influence take place. Patterns
American View
The more that success is based on the relationship with the customer, the less important are the disiplines develoment and manufacturing.
Germans don‘t understand the primacy of market orientation. Americans, therefore, are less concerned about Germans having the say in that area.
German View
The more that success is based on the product itself, the less important are the disciplines sales and marketing.
Americans don‘t understand the primacy of product. Germans, therefore, are less concerned about Americans having the say in that area.
Advice to Germans
You Germans and Americans are colleagues. Get out of the power game. If processes are crucial to success, convince your American colleagues to remain involved.
Don‘t make the mistake of creating processes without total transparency and involvement of your American colleagues.
Otherwise you‘ll produce German processes which don‘t work in the U.S. Your American colleagues will not implement them and make convincing arguments to upper management why. You‘ll lose that battle. It‘ll be painful.
Advice to Americans
Whether you think it important or not, get engaged in the internal debate about processes. To prevent it from devolving into a power struggle, demand full representation, full transparency and full accountability.
While involved, avoid being drawn into skirmishes. Focus, and keep your German colleagues focused, exclusively on those processes which improve performance and the bottom-line.
At the same time, get your German colleagues involved in your strategic thinking about how you go to market. Give up some of that power.