Introduction

Germany officially the Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe, comprising of 16 independent states

General features

Geography
Germany is in Western and Central Europe, bordering Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France and Luxembourg in the south-west, and Belgium and the Netherlands in the north-west. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Significant natural resources are iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel, arable land and water. By European standards it has many natural resources, including lignite, anthracite, timber, peat, iron ore and hydroelectric power. However, Germany has very few natural gas or petroleum deposits and so it must import large amounts of them.

(Statistic number: the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m)- imports: 99.63 billion cu m

(Source: CIA World Fact book information in this page is accurate as of January 9, 2012)

Weather
Germany has a largely temperate seasonal climate. The east has a more continental climate; winters can be very cold and summers very warm, and long dry periods are frequent. Central and southern Germany are transition regions which vary from moderately oceanic to continental. In addition to the maritime and continental climates that predominate over most of the country, the Alpine regions in the extreme south and, to a lesser degree, some areas of the Central German Uplands have a mountain climate, characteristic by lower temperatures and greater precipitation the largest economy in the European Union. It is one of the major political powers of the European continent and a technological leader in many fields.

Economy
Germany has a social market economy with a highly qualified labor force, a large capital stock, a low level of corruption,[90] and a high level of innovation.[91] It has the largest national economy in Europe, the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world,[92] and the fifth largest by PPP[92] in 2009. The service sector contributes approximately 71% of the total GDP, industry 28%, and agriculture 0.9%.[52] The average national unemployment rate in 2010 was about 7.5%.[52]
It is the second largest exporter and third largest importer of goods. The country has developed a very high standard of living and a comprehensive system of social security

Infrastructure (Very development)
The dense and modern transport networks
The largest German airports are Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport

The motorway (Autobahn) network ranks as the third largest worldwide in length
As of 2008, Germany was the world's sixth largest consumer of energy,[104] and 60% of its primary energy was imported.=> demand for energy conservation and renewable energy

Demographic
Germany is the most populous country in the European Union and ranks as the 16th most populous country in the world

Germany has been the home of many influential scientists and inventors, and is known for its cultural and political history.

Legalcy Structure

The Federal President is the head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany, dealings with other countries and appoints government members, judges and high-ranking civil servants.

The Basic Law does not accord the Federal President a right of veto such as is held by the President of the United States and other state presidents. The Federal President remains in office for a period of five years, elected by the Federal Convention, which is made up of members of the Bundestag.

The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic, federal and social constitutional state. Together with the basic rights, these principles form the inviolable core of the constitution, adherence to which is guarded over by the Federal Constitutional Court

Trade.
After the United States, Germany has the second largest export economy in the world.

In 1998, export accounted for 25 percent of the gross domestic product and import for nearly 22 percent. Export goods include products from the major industries cited above. Other than coal,

Germany lacks fossil fuels, especially oil and natural gas. These products must be imported. Germany's most important trading partners are France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European lands. It also trades actively with East Asian countries and has become increasingly involved in eastern Europe.

Division of Labor.

The work force in Germany includes laborers, entrepreneurs, employees and clerical workers, managers and administrators, and members of the various professions.

Laborers in Germany are usually highly skilled, having completed vocational training programs.

Cultural
Germany has been known for its contribution in many fields like music, literature, philosophy, art and architecture, and sports.

German Art: Germany has produced some of the best pieces of art work and has a long tradition in visual arts. Hans Holbein the Younger, and Matthias Grunewald were the major Renaissance artists. Print making, wood engravings and Gothic art of the sixteenth century are some of the major German innovations.

Architecture: The Carolingian and Ottonian styles, the precursors of Romanesque contributed to the architectural styles of Germany. The diverse architectural styles of the country is a result of fragmentation of the country during centuries. Abbey Church of St. Michael's, Speyer Cathedral, Freiburg Cathedral, and the Cologne Cathedral are the major architectural sites that are the prototype of German architecture.

Music: One of the leading music markets in the world, Germany is home to some of the most well-known classical music composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Richard Wagner.

Literature: German literature is world-famous and dates back to the Middle Ages. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, and Hermann Hesse are some of the most renowned German authors. Germany hosts the Frankfurt Book Fair annually; it is the biggest book fair in the world.

Sports: Germany has been represented in various international sporting events including Formula One, FIFA World Cup, Summer Olympics, ice hockey, and tennis tournaments. One of the leading motor sports countries in the world, Germany is known for the manufacture of motor brands such as BMW and Mercedes

Food in Daily Life Most Germans acquire food from both supermarkets and specialty shops, such as bakeries and butcher shops.
Bread is the main food at both breakfast and supper.

Breakfast usually includes brötchen, or rolls of various kinds, while supper— called Abendbrot —often consists of bread, sausages or cold cuts, cheese, and, perhaps, a salad or vegetable garnish. The warm meal of the day is still often eaten at noon, though modern work routines seem to encourage assimilation to American patterns.

Pork is the most commonly consumed meat, though various sorts of wurst, or sausage, are often eaten in lieu of meat.

Cabbage, beets, and turnips are indigenous vegetables, which are, however, often supplemented with more exotic fare.

Since its introduction in the seventeenth century, the potato has won a firm place in German cuisine. Favorite alcoholic beverages are beer, brandy, and schnapps.

German beers, including varieties such as Pilsner, Weizenbier, and Alt, are brewed according to the deutsche Reinheitsgebot, i.e., the German law of purity from the sixteenth century, which states that the only admissible ingredients are water, hops, and malt. Large family meals are still common at noontime on Saturdays and Sundays. These are often followed in mid-afternoon by Kaffee und Kuchen, the German version of tea time.

What about Germany - Based on Hofstede:

In general, according to the Hofstede analyzing, Viet Nam and Germany are almost contrast in each index.

Power distance
Germany’s Low Power Distance Index

Germany’s lowest score was 35 points on Hofstede’s power distance index. This index measures the extent to which less powerful members accept that power is distributed unequally in German institutions and organizations. Germany’s power distance index score is 36% below the world average score, and 14% lower than the U.S.
What this means is that Germany is a decentralized society, with relatively flatter organization structures and a comparatively smaller proportion of supervisors. A direct and participative communication and meeting style is common, control is disliked and leadership is challenged to show expertise and best accepted when it’s based on it
German workers are remarkably loyal to their companies. One question on Trompenaar’s survey asked whether an employee would reveal confidential company information to a close friend who otherwise would face financial ruin. Over 75% of German employees said that they would comply with their legal duty to respect company confidentiality.

• Vietnam scores high on this dimension (score of 70) which means that people accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. Hierarchy in an organisation is seen as reflecting inherent inequalities, centralization is popular, subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is a benevolent autocrat. Challenges to the leadership are not well-received

Individualism
Germany’s High Individualism Score

The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “We”.
In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.

The German society is a truly individualistic one (67). Small families with a focus on the parent-children relationship rather than aunts and uncles are most common. There is a strong belief in the ideal of self-actualization. Loyalty is based on personal preferences for people as well as a sense of duty and responsibility. This is defined by the contract between the employer and the employee.
Communication is among the most direct in the world following the ideal to be “honest, even if it hurts” – and by this giving the counterpart a fair chance to learn from mistakes. a survey that asked managers from different cultures: "Do you prefer working in a group or working on your own?"

A majority of 88% of Germans favour working in a group over solo efforts.
In contrast, 58% of Americans wanted to work alone and make independent decisions. • Vietnam, with a score of 20 is a collectivistic society. This is manifest in a close long-term commitment to the “member” group, be that a family, extended family or extended relationships. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount and overrides most other societal rules and regulations. Such a society fosters strong relationships, where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivistic societies, offence leads to shame and loss of face. Employer/employee relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link), hiring and promotion take account of the employee’s in-group. Management is the management of groups.

Masculinity / Femininity
Germany’s High Masculinity Score

A high score (masculine) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field – a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational behaviour.
With a score of 66 Germany is considered a masculine society. a cultural characteristic in which success, money and material possessions form the dominant values in society Performance is highly valued and early required as the school system separates children into different types of schools at the age of ten. People rather “live in order to work” and draw a lot of self-esteem from their tasks. Managers are expected to be decisive and assertive. Status is often shown, especially by cars, watches and technical devices.

That score is 32% higher than the world average score for masculinity, and 6% higher than the U.S.

According to Hofstede’s model, Germans place greater importance on earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge. The CIA World Fact Book points to Germany as the European Union’s largest economy, with an estimated trade surplus of US$240 billion in 2007.

• Vietnam scores 40 on this dimension and is thus considered a feminine society. In feminine countries the focus is on “working in order to live”, managers strive for consensus, people value equality, solidarity and quality in their working lives. Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favoured. Focus is on well-being, status is not shown. An effective manager is a supportive one, and decision making is achieved through involvement.

Uncertainty avoidance
Germany’s High Uncertainty Avoidance Index

Germany scored 65 points on Hofstede’s uncertainty avoidance index. This index measures the extent to which people feel threatened by ambiguous situations and have created beliefs and institutions to avoid such risks. That score is only 2% above the world average score for uncertainty avoidance, but 41% higher than the U.S. where Americans are much more comfortable with risks associated with change.

In combination with their low Power Distance, where the certainty for own decisions is not covered by the larger responsibility of the boss, Germans prefer to compensate for their higher uncertainty by strongly relying on expertise.

• Vietnam scores 30 on this dimension and thus has a low preference for avoiding uncertainty. Low UAI societies maintain a more relaxed attitude in which practice counts more than principles and deviance from the norm is more easily tolerated. In societies exhibiting low UAI, people believe there should be no more rules than are necessary and if they are ambiguous or do not work they should be abandoned or changed. Schedules are flexible, hard work is undertaken when necessary but not for its own sake, precision and punctuality do not come naturally, innovation is not seen as threatening.