The Germans have their own experiences with a divided country. The same applies to the Koreans. In both nations, the division by a border was/is obvious. Many people are less aware that “invisible borders” also run through other countries. Italy is one of them.
The North – a haven of prosperity
Italy’s industry lies in the north. Northern Italy is one of the most prosperous regions in the world. This is where the country’s industrialization began at the end of the 19th century, giving rise to large corporations such as Fiat, Olivetti, Pirelli and others, often supported by the state.
The south – the poorhouse of Italy
Where exactly the dividing line between north and south runs is subject to interpretation. However, it is usually located south of Rome. The south has always been agrarian, with the land mostly in the hands of large landowners. Despite some efforts by the government to promote industry in the south, the region remained one of the poorest in Europe.
The government – an unloved institution
The country was unified in 1859, before which it was a patchwork of duchies, kingdoms and counties, not forgetting the Papal States. Despite the national enthusiasm, a unified government has a hard time when citizens define themselves first by their regions and then by the nation. On the other hand, Italy is the record holder in Europe for changing governments after the Second World War.
Bureaucracy – a world record?
Italy’s bureaucracy is legendary – in a negative sense. The government passed many laws and the Italians circumvented them. As a result, more laws were passed. However, there are no implementing regulations. In addition, the attitude of Italian officials towards citizens is often top-down. You often only get ahead through relationships.
The corporate structures – small state
The regulations for the protection of employees are manifold. Which is a good thing on the one hand, but also means little flexibility on the other. On the other hand, they only apply up to a size of 15 employees. The result: 94 % of Italian companies are small businesses.
Hierarchies – more pronounced than in many other countries
There is a pronounced sense of hierarchy in Italy. The heritage of the south comes from the large landowning families, while that of the north often comes from small businesses. This is also the case in Germany, for example, because which company owner wants to have the butter taken off their bread? Secondly, the traditional Italian family has a very hierarchical structure with a patron at the top. As in other countries, this order has an impact on business life. This is a particular focus of intercultural training in Italy.
La Famiglia – a special meaning
In Italy, there was little reliance on the state in the past. Backing, especially in emergencies, was therefore provided by the family, which is particularly important. This is important to know for managers coming from Germany, because here it is important to be more considerate. Family obligations are very important to Italians and are sometimes placed above economic obligations. Although Italian society is now ageing dramatically (Italy has the lowest birth rate in the EU), the traditions that have been handed down are still intact.
Bella Figura – Clothes make the man
Italians are fashionable people. Looking good and dressing well are important attributes. What often looks exaggerated from a German perspective, with the increasingly lax dress codes in companies, is a matter of course for Italians. If you work in Italy, you should pay more attention to your appearance, because how you are perceived has a major influence on how you are respected.
Emotions – always to be found in everyday life too
There is a saying that Italians speak more with their hands than with their mouths. The intonation of the language also seems much more excited and emotional to Germans. Italians therefore show much more emotion than Germans. In the positive case, this is an exuberant cordiality from the German point of view. In the negative case, it is an inappropriately angry reaction. It should be noted here that Italians simply express their feelings more strongly. You should therefore not draw the wrong conclusions. Intercultural training in Italy helps participants to avoid this.
Conclusion
The inhabitants of the former “place of German longing” are therefore very different in terms of mentality. How to deal with this should be practiced in an intercultural seminar in Italy before “breaking porcelain” and destroying good business opportunities. Because, as I said, the north of Italy is where the country’s economic music is played and this region is one of Germany’s closest trading partners. Even though Germans and Italians now have a lot of experience in dealing with each other, different manners still apply in both countries.
