Summary of Humor and culture in international business | Chris Smit | TEDxLeuven

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

Chris Smit discusses how culture can impact international business, noting that there are many similarities and differences between cultures. He provides an overview of different senses of humor between countries, emphasizing the importance of understanding different cultures in order to effectively work with them.

• 00:00:00 Chris Smit speaks about the importance of culture in international business, noting that while there are many similarities between cultures, there are also many differences. He provides an introduction to his humorous talk by discussing Dutch stereotypes, including the idea that the Dutch never will win the World Cup football competition. He then transitions to discussing the German sense of humor, noting that while it is a serious matter for some, it is also a form of humor for others. Smit finishes his talk by discussing the different senses of humor between countries, emphasizing the importance of understanding different cultures in order to effectively work with them.
• 00:05:00 Chris Smit discusses how culture can play a role in international business, highlighting that different countries have different levels of hierarchy and power distance. Hofstadter's model of culture is also introduced, with power distance representing the degree to which a society values individual autonomy and uncertainty avoidance representing the degree to which a society is uncomfortable with change.
• 00:10:00 This presentation discusses the different cultural norms and expectations in different countries, and how these can impact project management. The presenter notes that France has a preference for organized, yet sometimes this leads to problems. The British and Americans are noted as having a "just to do it" approach, while the Germans are known for their orderly approach. The Dutch are known for their consensus-building approach, which is different from the others.