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Goals – Key Facts – Values & Attitude – Daily Life – Business Briefing – Communication – Usages – Security – Questions
Tahiri.no
Meet Ukraine
- Patrick Tahiri -
AGENDA:
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Goals
Create an awareness of the cultural differences
Explain what you can expect when meeting and
working with Ukrainians
Reduce communication issues
Tahiri.no
Goals – Key Facts – Values & Attitudes – Daily Life – Business Briefing – Communication – Usages – Security – Questions
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Key facts
Capital Kiev / Kyiv
Geography
Eastern Europe
Border with Russia, Belarus, Poland,
Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and
Moldova
Climate Temperate Continental
Population
47.5 million
78% ethnic Ukrainians
17% Russian
Language
Ukrainian
Russian is widely spoken
and understood
Religion
Mainly Orthodox.
Catholic, Judaism
Currency
Hryvna - UAH
1 € ~ UAH
1 USD ~ ARS
Time
EET
CET + 1 hour
Ukraine – at a glance
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Hospitality
Women
Community Spirit
Family Loyalty
Ethnic Minorities
Foreigners
Class & Money
Soul
Religion
Superstitions
Healing
Tahiri.no
Values and Attitudes
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? Beyond limits of time and economy.
? Guest: best food, best room, best bed.
? Entertain guests and show them around.
? Might be perceived overwhelming.
? Generosity of spirit - Inclusive.
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Hospitality– Community Spirit – Family Loyalty – Women in Society – Ethnic Minorities
Foreigners – Class & Money – Ukrainian Soul – Religion – Superstitions – Healing
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Hospitality – Community Spirit – Family Loyalty – Women in Society – Ethnic Minorities
? Survival mechanism.
? Soviet constraints.
? Rukavychka.
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? Strong family values and traditions.
? Housing shortage.
? Source of help and support.
? Lifelong bond with the parents.
? Trust: numerous family enterprises.
? Young couples tendency: more independency & move out earlier.
? Every 1/3 marriage ends with a divorce.
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? Strong independent-minded.
? Active part in politics.
? Sense of duty – family, children.
? Society still sees women in her traditional role – family tradition maintainer.
? Generally still lower paid.
? Proud of their feminity.
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? Crossroads position & Borders with seven countries.
? Ethnic minorities: 22% – 78% ethnic Ukrainians & 17% Russians.
? Ukrainian Law protects minorities.
? Do not hold an equal place in society.
? Transit country.
? Tsarist Russia & Soviet persecutions.
? 4th
largest Jewish community in the world.
? Stalin: massive Tatars deportation – Crimea.
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Foreigners– Class & Money – Ukrainian Soul – Religion – Superstitions – Healing
? Until 90s: actively discouraged to have contact with
Westerners.
? Foreigners approached with suspicion and curiosity.
? Often seen as source of easy income.
? English is the main foreign language taught at school.
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? New government - nomenklatura: similar Soviet-style organization.
? New classes of superrich – oligarchs – and beggars.
? Intelligentsia is impoverished.
? High cost of living in Kyiv.
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? Pagan roots.
? Strong bond between Ukrainians and nature – Art.
? Desire to decorate.
? Humor and Melancholy.
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Foreigners – Class & Money – Ukrainian Soul – Religion– Superstitions – Healing
? Christian tradition.
? Collapse of Soviet - comfort in religion.
? Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
? Beauty of the Ukrainian Churches.
? Roman Catholics, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Protestants and Jews.
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Foreigners – Class & Money – Ukrainian Soul – Religion – Superstitions– Healing
? Many unspoken rules in Ukrainian everyday life.
? Paganism influence.
? Ukrainian attraction for mysticism.
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? Folk medicine - integral part of Ukrainian life.
? Pagan traditions influence.
? Absence of good medication during Soviet times.
? Preference to natural remedies rather than antibiotics.
? Plenty of home remedy advices.
? Common requirements: all the ingredients are natural.
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Standards of Living Schools and Education
Daily Routine Cost of Living
Struggling middle-class
Low performance of health care and pension systems
Women – Child care – Kitchen work
Soviet time: husband & wife had to work
Many young people continue to live with their
parents after graduation
Kitchen – center of family life
Office hours: 09:00 – 18:00
Lunch: 13:00 ~ 14:00
Preferably hot food
Very inexpensive compared to USA/Europe
Borshch
Number of people living below the poverty line has risen up
Nonworking wife – status symbol
Low salaries
Current inflation ~ 9.4%
Strong influence of parents on grown-up children
Rynok
Food shopping – Budget
Free state education
Strong and high-level education system
No uniform
Inherited a rigid Soviet system of education
Pride of the Soviet system
Kyiv is an expensive city
Very high literacy rate ~ 99.4%
Unemployment rate ~ 8.1%
Daily Life
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Business Environment
Corruption
Negotiations
Meeting
Legal System
Body language
Women in Business
Communicating
Tahiri.no
Business Briefing
Business Culture
Shadow Economy
Foreign Investment
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The Business Environment – Corruption – The Shadow Economy – Legal System – Foreign Investment
The Business Culture – Women in Business – Conducting a Meeting – Negotiation – The Written Word
? War in eastern part increase uncertainty and instability.
? Industrial base in the east and rich agricultural resources.
? Majority of Soviet high-tech military plants – highly skilled engineers and
researchers workforce.
? Large manufacturing capacity.
? Developed transport infrastructure.
? Large gap between potential and economic performance.
? Inflation, corruption and slow pace of reforms.
? Widespread poverty.
Business Briefing
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The Business Environment – Corruption– The Shadow Economy – Legal System – Foreign Investment
? Unfortunately ranks among the 10 most corrupt country.
? Political level – and all levels of business and administrative/public sectors.
? Public employees’ salary extremely low.
? Oligarchs – threat for the economic growth.
Business Briefing
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? Difficult to evaluate and assess its scale.
? ~ 65% of the total economy.
? Exuberant luxurious cars, shops and properties
Business Briefing
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? After independence – new judiciary and completely new legal system.
? Lack of experience available.
? Inconsistent, ambiguous and contradictions – laws, regulations, decrees.
? Long way to achieve transparency and enforcement.
Business Briefing
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? Low – even lower now in 2014: uncertainty/instability.
? Complexity and unclearness of the tax, law and administrative systems.
? Corruption, political instability.
? Great potential is not exploited yet – too challenging for investors.
Business Briefing
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? Soviet legacy and European aspirations – a unique blend!
? Attitude to the authority – mistrust & suspicions.
? It’s all personal – family and friendship ties for business.
? Work qualities – highly skilled, motivated, responsible and hard workers.
? Promises to deliver – be patient!
? Initiative – reluctant to take risks and make decisions.
? Hierarchy – orders from the top and execution down. Hierarchical control.
Distance to power.
? Team spirit – not common/widespread yet. Individualist.
? Praise is rare – doing a good job is expected.
? Uncertainty avoidance.
? Time and deadlines perceptions.
? Management style.
Business Briefing
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? 52% of the graduates – 20% middle managers and 5.8% top managers.
? Similar picture in politics.
? Traditionally chief accountant/financial director (CFO), teachers, pediatricians,
doctors.
? “Women must always remember where they belong, and must never aspire to
become general.”
Business Briefing
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? Conservative suit. Businesslike appearance is important.
? Be prepared for meetings to start late or to be canceled at the last minute.
? Be punctual and be prepared for the waiting game.
? Waiting is the norm in Ukraine – don’t show frustration!
? Business cards are important. Job positions/titles on it is important!
Business Briefing
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The Business Culture – Women in Business – Conducting a Meeting – Negotiation– The Written Word
? Can be tedious in length.
? Start with long warm-up session – don’t get impatient! Don’t jumpstart!
? Global picture first then details.
? Avoid early compromises.
? Be prepared for “no”.
? Leave the price until last.
? Emotional approach.
Business Briefing
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? Protocol of intent – minutes of meeting considered binding in principle.
? Contracts – keep it simple! Bring your stamp.
? Don’t refuse an invitation to dinner!
Business Briefing
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The Language Issue
Phone/Mobile
Formal & Informal Address
Tahiri.no
Communication
Body Language and Personal Space
Face-to-Face
@Work&Business
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Communication
@Work&Business – The Language Issue – Formal & Informal Address
Face-to-Face – Body Language & Personal Space – Phone/Mobile
? How clearly says what they think – depends!
? Humor at work and in business – yes they can!
? Oral and written communication – oral communication is important!
? Personal relationships and business – are very important!
? Punctuality – be prepared to wait! Don’t show frustration!
? Procedural vs. Flexibility – Flexible!
? Teamwork – individualists!
? Hierarchy – more distance between managers and team. Power distance.
? Decisions – from the top!
? Negative feedback & Saving face.
? Delegating work.
Build relationships and trust!
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Communication
? Russification – highest number of non-native Russian speakers after Russia.
? More than 52% of the population speaks Russian in their daily life.
? Conflicts – Second official language in Ukraine.
? English – most of the younger generation.
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Communication
? Two forms – polite & familiar – always use polite at start.
? Don’t address people by their first name at start – business, official events.
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Communication
Face-to-Face– Body Language & Personal Space – Phone/Mobile
? Ukrainians love to talk! Loquacious.
? “How are you?” – don’t answer shortly.
? Structure of Ukrainian language – direct and “abrupt”. This is not intentional!
? Attitude – serious/severe expression: “Ukrainians don’t smile.”
? Ukrainian forms of politeness are much simpler than in English/French.
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Communication
? Shorter personal space during conversation – less distance.
? Don’t take it personally!
? Don’t point you index finger.
? Don’t keep your hands in your pockets with your business partners, official
events or an elderly person.
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Communication
? Callers don’t always introduce themselves.
? Answering machines – not popular.
? Quality of the connections.
? International roaming – expensive.
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Dinner
Parties
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Usages
To Drink or not to Drink
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Usages
Parties– Dinner – To Drink or Not to Drink
? Outdoor – barbecues – informal.
? Bring wine, sweets, flowers.
? Finger buffet or buffet – not common/recommended nor popular.
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Usages
Parties – Dinner– To Drink or Not to Drink
? Celebration – banquet – the most traditional party!
? Relationships and businesses!
? Unspoken protocol of hospitality.
? Bring wine, sweets, flowers.
? Overfeeding guests.
? Toasts.
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Usages
Parties – Dinner – To Drink or Not to Drink
? Integral part of celebration, relaxation and everyday life.
? Vodka & Gorilka.
? Suspicions if not drinking.
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Security
After independence Ukraine experienced a significant increase in crime
Not violent crime – theft, fraud, extortion, burglaries and economic crimes
Levels of crime are low compared to Western countries, and much lower than in Russia
Lock your luggage when travellingBeware of pickpockets
Keep a photocopy of your passport and credit cards – keep them in a safe place
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40
Patrick Tahiri
Дякую !
Questions ?
Crossroads East/West
Hard way to become free and democratic
European oriented
Community spirit
Paradoxes
Generosity
Hospitality
Food
History & Traditions Hardworking
Friendship
Tahiri.no
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