We have compiled an extensive collection of articles on American-German issues, all in PDF format, for an easy download. At the end, there is a bibliography of works.

Articles by Patrick Schmidt:

An Intercultural Look at Obama's Mind.pdf
A short essay on why Barack Obama is called "no drama Obama". First published in the Vienna Review, May 2010 and then in the SIETAR Europa newsletter, June 2010

Non-Conventional Truths about American-German Business.pdf
The two business cultures appear to be similar. But underneath the surface, there are many subtle and hidden differences.

Cultural divide-Germany.pdf
Intercultural advice for those wanting to do business in Germany

U.S.-German Communication Styles.pdf
An analysis of how Americans and German communicate differently

German don't smile at us.pdf
Intercultural experiences of American students during their three month stay in Cologne. First published in the SIETAR-Europa newsletter magazine in September, 2009

Interkulturelle Souveränität.pdf
Lecture (in German) on intercultural competence given at Markel Stiftung of Bosch GmbH

U.S. Lawsuits.pdf
Historical reasons why Americans go to court so often

U.S. Vorliebe für Prozesse.pdf

New Germany 2003.pdf
How the forces of globalization are changing Germany (written in January 2003)

Intercultural competence.pdf
Description of the interculturally-competent person

Discovering the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).pdf
A reliable and valid measure of intercultural competence. Talk given at the SIETAR Congress in Granada, Spain, October, 2008

German objectivity.pdf
German "objectivity" on the work place and its historical origins

Old Europe-New World intercultural differences.pdf
How Europeans and Americans perceive each other

American Openness.... German Objectivity.pdf
Speech on American openness contrasting with German objectivity, given at the Goethe Institute in Chicago

American openness and "superficiality".pdf
Historical reasons why Americans appear "open and superficial" to foreigners

Cultural divide-U.K.pdf
Intercultural advice for those planning to do business in the United Kingdom

Cultural divide-France.pdf
Intercultural advice for those planning to do business in France

Cultural divide-Canada.pdf
Intercultural advice for those planning to do business in Canada

Discreet Horrors of the English Language.pdf
A humorous essay on the difficulties foreigners have when learning English

A satirical look at the German language.pdf
A modern interpretation of Mark Twain's essay "The Awful German Language".

"Trendy" German.pdf
An amusing article on how German is becoming more like "English"

Law & Order in Swabia.pdf
A satirical interpretation of the Swabian “Kehrwoche” as seen by an American

The high cost of living in Malaysia.pdf
The expatriate life style in southeast Asia

US-German Intercultural Quiz.pdf
Test your knowledge and skills with this intercultural quiz. Published in the 2007 Yearbook of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany

The Invisible Mindsets of Americans, Germans and
Austrian — How do they differ?. doc
A speech on communication patterns given in Sofia, Bulgaria at the 2007 SIETAR conference.

The charming communication style of Austrians. pdf
A look at the historical and cultural factors that have shaped the Austrian way of communicating. Published in the Vienna Review, November 2007.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Intercultural.pdf
A short essay on the characteristics of the interculturally competent person. Published in the 'Vienna Review', May 2008.

USA-Germany seminar slides.ppt
PowerPoint slides of my U.S.-German intercultural training.

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Podcasts by Patrick Schmidt:

Why intercultural training is important for U.S. German relations (.mp3 format)

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Articles about U.S and Germany from other experts:

Can U.S.-German cultures mix?.pdf
An interview of Patrick Schmidt (Trade Magazine, German-American Chamber of Commerce, June, 2001)

U.S. & Deutsch Wirtschaftskultur mischen?.pdf

Why Americans admire the rich.pdf
Analysis of the unconscious desires of Americans (New York Times, January, 2003)

So nah und doch so fern.pdf
The trap of similarity in German-American relationships (VDF Aktuell, August 2001)

Low education ratings in Germany 2002.pdf
About German’s poor showing in education (International Herald Tribune, February 2003)

Proud to be German ?.pdf
Two Germans write in the FAZ their feelings about being German

British-American misunderstandings.pdf
Linguistic differences between Americans and British

Americans work most hours.pdf
A United Nations report that shows Americans work the most hours (New York Times, September, 2001)

USA - The greatest show on earth.pdf
A humorous essay on the American character, written by H. L. Mencken in 1927

Interview with Siemens CEO.pdf
Heinrich von Pierer talks to the Wall Street Journal (February, 2001)

German investor relations in the USA.pdf
Survey on how German companies are perceived by American investors (German American Chamber of Commerce, 2001)

Wie Deutsche verhandeln.pdf
Interview with one of America’s top German expert on the mindset of a German negotiator (Der Speigel, February 2003)

Tips on doing business in Germany.pdf
Some interesting insights on doing business in Germany

U.S. Congress role in trade policy.pdf
A German journalist analyses the important role that U.S. Congress plays in trade policy

Cowboys gegen Krauts.pdf
An interesting article for Germans on how to behave when confronted with political questions from Americans. (from the Handelsblatt, in German)

Deutsche Unternehmen versinken im Mittelmass.pdf
A ‘Business Week’ ranking shows that German firms don’t even make it in the top 20 European companies. (Der Spiegel, 23.07.03)

Cultural Clash at Siemens with U.S. operations.pdf
Article from the Wall Street Journal about Siemens' policies concerning its U.S. Operations

A German Mood Swing.pdf
T he despair and malaise of Germany in the year 2004 as experienced by a reporter of the New York Times (March, 2004)

WalMart's fiasco in Germany.pdf
A fascinating intercultural study on how not to enter a foreign market. From the University of Bremen (March, 2003)

Verpatzte Invasion.pdf
Article about the many difficulties, including intercultural, Wal-Mart has in Germany. (Der Spiegel, 01.11.04)

German National Welfarism.pdf
An extremely, well written article on why Germany finds itself in economic stagnation. (Wall Street Journal, June, 2005)

Standort Deutschland attraktiv wie lange nicht.2007 pdf
Article in German from Der Spiegel on how Germany has become attractive for U.S. investors again

Americans fall back in love with Germany.pdf
According to a new poll, the image of "modern Germany" is positive again the in the USA (Spiegel, October, 2008)

Free to Lose.pdf
Paul Krugman analyses the different employment policies in the US and in Germany. New York Times, November, 2009

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Bibliography:

Adler, N.J., International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, PWS-Kent, 1991

Bennett, M.J., "Towards Ethnorelativism: A Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity", Cross-Cultural Orientations, University Press of America, 1986

Bennett, M.J. & Steward E.C., American Cultural Patterns, Intercultural Press, 1991

Chandler, Alfred, Scale and Scope - The Dynamics of Industrial Capitalism, Belknap Press, 1990

Craig, G.A., The Germans, Penguin Books, 1983

Engel, D., Passport USA, World Trade Press, 1997

Flamini, R., Passport Germany, World Trade Press, 1997

Francesco, A.M. & Gold, B.A., International Organizational Behavior, Prentice Hall, 1998

Guinther, J., The Jury in America, Facts on File Publication, 1988

Guy, V. & Mattock, J., The New International Manager, Kogan Page Ltd., 1991

Hall, E.T., Unterstanding Cultural Differences, Intercultural Press, Inc., 1990

Hirsch, E.D., Cultural Literacy, Vintage Books, 1988

Hofstede, G., "Cultural Constraints in Management Theories", Academy of Management Executive, 7(1), 81-94, 1993

Kennedy, P., The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, Random House, 1987

Kohls, L.R. & Knight, J.M. , Developing Intercultural Awareness, Intercultural Press, Inc., 1994

Kohls, L.R., Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Intercultural Press, Inc., 1996

Knower, D., Spemann, T. & WŸrtele G., Business Guide USA, Frankfurter Allgemeine Buch, 2000

Larson, R., Getting Along with the Germans, Bechtle Verlag, 1989

Lewis, R. D., When Cultures Collide, Nicolas Brealey Publishing, 2000

Lord, R., Culture Shock: Germany, Graphics Arts Center Publishing, 1996

Lustig, M.W. & Koester, J., Intercultural Competence, Longman, 1999

Mayer-Larsen, Griff über den gro§en Teich, Campus Verlag, 1999

Mole, J., Mind Your Manners, Nicholas Brealey, 1996

Nees, G. Germany Unraveling an Enigma, Intercultural Press, Inc. 2000

Otte, Max, Amerika für Geschäftsleute, Ullstein Buchverlag, 1998

Rentzsch, H.P., Erfolgreich Verhandeln im Weltweiten Business, Gabler, 1998

Schmidt, P.L., Understanding American and German Business Cultures, Meridian World Press, 1999

Schroll-Machl, S., Die Deutschen - Wir Deutsche, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2002

Stahl, G, Langeloh, C., KŸhlmann T., Geschäftlich in den USA, Ueberreuter Verlag, 1999

Storti, C., Old World - New World, Intercultural Press, 2001

Tocqueville, A., De la Démocratie en Amérique, GF-Flammarion, 1981

Untereiner, G., Le Marché Allemand, Maxima, 1998

Vlasic, B & Stertz, B., Taken for a ride: How Daimler-Benz drove off with Chrysler, HarperCollins Publishers, 2000

Vogel, D., "The Globalization of Business Ethics: Why America Remains Distinctive", California Management Review, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1992

Wanning, E., Culture Shock: USA, Graphic Arts Center Publishing, 1991

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