"Working on a project in Italy was also very different from Belgium. A lot of clichés appeared to materialise. A meeting scheduled at 9 would typically start at 9.30, a lot of discussions but not a lot of decisions in meetings, a lot of time spent at the coffee machine, etc. It is not that they were not working hard, in the evening they typically stay much later, but to me it seems they have to catch up in the evening for the inefficiency during the day.”
“While in Germany we worked with Italian and German people – Italian people were much more relaxed and keen on speaking personal during working hours while German people wanted to do things well in advance and in a strict way ”
“In Italy, a scheduled meeting of 1 hour ends up lasting 4 and they invite everybody even if just a few participants speak.”
“I like to build confident relationship … speaking also about very general matters (out of business ones). Sometimes I find close people that are not willing to open too much their approach. With this kind of people sometimes I get some difficulties but nothing really serious.”
“At the restaurant with an Italian colleague who speaks a lot louder than I do. In the end I lower more and more the tone of my voice in the vain hope to equalize his high tones with my lower ones and avoid the furious glares from the table next to us.”
“In Italy during crisis period people find always solution they are very creative”
“In Italy when people say yes… yes that means maybe or no…”
“Early in my career I was responsible for putting together the accounts for an Italian subsidiary. After a few weeks I was struggling to understand what some additional payments were for associated with obtaining licences and authorities. Following a meeting with senior staff I was made aware of the requirement to make certain payments to officials to facilitate the timely approvals required. After some months of covering this area it became clear that these additional payments were an integral part of doing business in Italy.”
“Italy, business people discuss topics and after a while it is not so clear about the final decision on the issue by the end of discussion. German people have to learn that not all discussions are finished with clear structured task or program.”
“I experienced a big difference from working for a company located in the North of Italy (Verona) and then living in Rome. Communication was a bit colder and less personal in the North.”