Thursday, August 23, 2007

French culture / etiquette / business practices

French culture has been predominant in the world for centuries. Due to its influence in different parts of the world and also due to immigration French culture has developed into a diverse culture.

The most commonly heard stereotype of French culture is that the French are considered rude. But basically the French are polite people, but there can be exceptions and those can be in any culture, country or ethnicity. The whole question of a culture being rude is quite debatable as something as accepted standards of politeness vary from culture to culture. To better understand the French culture it is important to forgo the myth of French rudeness.

The French language is the soul of the French culture, and therefore it is given a lot of prominence. Therefore when one is in France one should make an effort to speak some French. No one expects you to be fluent, but knowing a few key phrases can take you a long way. The French are proud of their language, culture and country. If one is respectful of their language and culture then the response will be similar.

Because of its rich and prominent culture the French take immense pride in themselves. Such cultural identities play a crucial role in French business culture, where appropriate conduct, mutual trust and understanding are the key to an organization’s success when doing business in France.

French culture – Key concepts and values

Centralization – It is one of the key elements of the French culture which has incidentally derived its origin from the long and notable history of centralization reflected in its geography, transportation system, government and business. Despite the democratic system adopted now, the remains of the power and authority of the monarchy still can be seen as a significant part of the French presidency today.

Individualism and individuality – Having a unique individuality is a key cultural characteristic of French culture, both in society and in business. This is mainly because a certain passion for uniqueness and freedom of opinion exists. Individualism is equally important in France, and in business environments great concern is placed on social status and being judged as an individual.

Uncertainty avoidanceBecause of the French culture’s low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity a major influence on French business is the country’s attention to rules and regulations. French culture tries to minimize the possibility of risks by implementing rules, regulations and procedures.

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