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United Kingdom Mind Your Manners population: 58m GDP 1025 ($ billion) Regionalism-- stereotypes -- politics The South -- "the area within a couple hours' drive from London" Seen by those who live in it as "superior in wealth, sophistication and social status" "Home Counties" -- London and surrounding area 1/5 of population live in 8 cities The North -- the rest Bulldog -- symbol of "thrusting individual assertiveness" Politeness -- reserve and restraint "The Establishment"-- Civil Service, Tories, Oxbridge, "the great and the good" Only EU country without PR (Proportional Representation) Politics and law based on precedent No written constitution, bill of rights or legal code "Muddling through" -- "getting there in the end" -- "common sense" (cf France) Mistrust of "grand designs", particularly with regard to Europe Economy No national agenda for economic development Despite privatisation -- one in three employees remains in public sector (cf 31% in Germany/20% in Italy) Major shift-- from manufacturing to services (60 % of GDP/65% OF workforce) No protection against foreign takeover (cf Germany) -- car industry in foreign hands The UK gateway into EU Single Market for non-European countries 120 of 400 Japanese manufacturing facilities in Europe British industry labour intensive -- manual workers comprise 45% of workforce Cheap labour market -- comparable to Spain and Portugal Unions -- based on craft, not industry/makes for competition among unions Decline in power -- legislation, decline of heavy industry, no longer seen as "partner" Greater freedom to "hire and fire" than in other EU countries Worker participation programs resisted Pay and conditions, not longer-term collaboration remain primary union goals The City -- banks, insurance companies, financial institutions Intercultural communication: UK -- Cooper page 1 United Kingdom page 2 SIB -- Securities and Investments Board, watchdog for investors Stock Exchange -- largest and most active in Europe Stock Exchange/Unlisted Securities Market -- 4000 public limited companies (plc) Institutional shareholders -- more significant than private shareholders Business Public limited companies (plc) Board of directors -- at least two directors appointed by shareholders Chairperson (chief executive), chief executive otherwise called managing director Company secretary -- in charge of legal compliance and administration Private limited companies (Ltd) -- needs only one director appointed by owners non-executive directors -- provide contacts with govt/establishment executive committee -- appointed by board; includes MD; cf continental twin-board Organisation -- top-down, structured hierarchy (also a social hierarchy) Plannning -- financial forecasting and budgeting line managers -- make first drafts senior management -- consolidate, process, amend and return basis of bonuses and incentives -- meeting or outperforming forecasts Management style Instructions -- "should be disguised as polite requests" "Arm's-length relationships" -- both sides on their guard/fairness not closeness Breakdown of hierarchical systems -- "no national consensus among managers under the age of 45 about the nature of authority systems" (the UK is the only large EU country not to have military conscription) Committees -- British joke about their love of them Most important committee -- the board of directors: all decisions need its approval "Servant" -- means employee/implies strong element of duty and commitment Group consensus -- very important/individualism refers to non-conformism Uncomfortable taking individual initiatives with out group consensus behind them Intercultural communication: UK -- Cooper page 2 United Kingdom page 3 Meetings Most important and time-consuming management tool Not regarded as interruptions from real work Not acceptable to leave half-way through Must have results -- if only an agreement to have another meeting Schedules and agendas most common -- start on time, but finish when finished Consensus important -- not usual to lobby individual members Training One sixth -- German/French spend six times Brithish companies on training Lower levels -- 4 of 5 manual/3 of 5 non-manual workers get no training Higher levels -- regarded as reward for promotion Women 45% of workforce, but -- lowest maternity benefits/childcare facilities Why? -- cheaper, will work part-time (less protection), economic necessity Where? -- service/public sector--more often in management than other EU countries Etiquette Less formal than is believed -- first names increasingly common Titles -- Sir + first name/"Doctor" only for medical doctors, not academics Greetings -- "sir" used less than in US/handshakes for first meetings/How do you do? Last names -- male colleagues close in hierarchy: matey, old-boy atmosphere Class distinctions-- experts at classifying by tiny details of speech, manners and dress Cars symbol of rank -- 75% of new cars are bought by companies (tax avoidance) Dress -- "off-the-peg"/tailored, ties: old school-- important signal Formal meals -- "loyal toast" - everyone stands and toasts sovereign Formalized unpunctuality -- social occasions 20 minutes/work 10 minutes "A nice person" -- courteous, unassuming/self-irony, self-deprecation South -- hints and subtleties, polite and reserved/direct confrontation avoided North -- reputation for plain speaking Humour -- aversion to seriousness/all levels/important to be entertaining British reserve/self-irony has its limits--don't make fun of British tradition/custom Intercultural communication: UK -- Cooper page 3 United Kingdom page 3 Socialising Segregated canteens -- still common as is "directors' dining room" Business lunch -- often main meal of day Pubs -- pub lunch and pub after work quite common Late hours -- managers work long hours "Office parties" -- at least once a year, also social clubs, children's Christmas parties Intercultural communication: UK -- Cooper page 4