Okan Yildiz 
Choosing the Right Business Strategies for Foreign Companies in Germany [PDF ebook] 

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2019 in the subject Business economics – Company formation, Business Plans, , language: English, abstract: The main purpose of this dissertation is to study which challenges foreign companies are faced with in Germany and outline the strategies and opportunities for related companies with special focus on the management consulting.
When the challenges are taken in a wide view, simultaneously the companies can perform the analysis of opportunities and strengths against threads and weaknesses. The challenge based strategies will create economic and social value for the companies.
The dissertation concludes that foreign companies can create competitive positions in Germany when they develop the understanding of challenges they face and innovative strategies based on their different culture and specific advantages. Additionally, management consulting can help to support the implementation of strategies and models.
Germany has a leadership role among surrounding European countries and is the fifth largest economy in the world. It has a very high degree of openness for international trade and business. Germany has established itself as a key economic power on the global stage making doing business in Germany more attractive than ever. In Germany, business culture is defined mostly with efficiency, quality and high technical standards and discipline. The business climate is very positive. Furthermore, the consumers have plenty of savings in the pockets.
Doing business in Germany without adequate cross-cultural awareness, however, is a risky proposition. Many entrepreneurships and business relationships come to an end even before they begin. The values of German business culture at the root of the country’s economic success can also prove a source of cross-cultural misunderstanding for global companies doing business in Germany. The intercultural differences and misunderstandings very often result in critical loss of time and money.
The foreign companies in Germany have noteworthy risks and challenges. It is essential to understand the business environment and partners. Especially with Germans, even small issues can be crucial. If the foreign business partner has not enough understanding or experience about the differences of German business environment and culture, even speaking to a potential German business partner can create unexpected problems and results.