―EDUCATION & CULTURE SYSTEM AND “ANALYSIS OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN BELGIUM” CULTURE SYSTEM IN BELGIUM The People Belgium is comprised of two primary cultural groups. The Dutch-speaking Flemings live in Flanders, in the north, and make up 55% of the population. The French-speaking Walloons live in Wallonia, in the south, and make up 33% of the population. Hard work and an appreciation for culture are important values to Belgians, who think of themselves as Europeans first, Walloons or Flemings second, and Belgians third. Strong family systems are vital to Belgian society. Extensive families live in separate homes, but often settle in or close to the town where they were raised. Meeting and Greeting: Shake hands with everybody present -- men, women, and children -- at business and social meetings. Shake hands another time when leaving. Repeat their name when being introduced. Language: Dutch, French and German are all spoken in Belgium. Speak English if in doubt. There is no place in Europe where you can get in greater difficult by using the incorrect language than in Belgium. The language of choice for negotiators in Brussels is English. French is also commonly used. Body Language: It is measured bad manner to break their fingers. Do not put their hands in their pockets, yawn, and scratch or use toothpicks in public. Feet should never be put on chairs or tables. Back slapping is considered unpleasant. The "okay" sign means ―zero‖. Corporate Culture: Belgians take timekeeping for business meetings very seriously. Call with a clarification if they are late. Present their business card ahead meeting. Business cards in English are acceptable. Belgians tend to meet people for a short period of time before they get down to business at meetings. Initial meetings are generally for getting familiar and developing trust. Business meetings are formal. Personal relationships follow business relationships. Belgians are known for compromise, cooperation, negotiation and common sense. They grateful for clear facts and records. In Flanders, business organization is generally straight and simple. Participatory management, active consensus and delegation of responsibility are common in the workplace. Walloons prefer structure, formal organization, clear structure systems and directive leadership. Rules and procedures are important to Walloons, as are job titles and rank. It is not acceptable to call a Belgian business person at home if there is an emergency. Dining and Entertainment: Business lunches are common; business breakfasts are rare. To beckon a waiter or waitress raise your hand and make eye contact. Keep your hands on the table at all times during a serving of food -- not in your lap. However, keep your elbows off the table. Accept any drink offered by your host. Don't ask for a drink not offered. Hosts seat guests. Husbands and wives are generally not seated together. Hosts and hostesses sit at opposite ends of the table. A male guest of honor is seated to the right of the hostess; a female guest of honor is seated to the right of the host. Wait to drink until your host offers the first toast. The guest of honor is generally expected to offer a toast. Belgians are careful and do not appreciate waste. Finish all the food on their plate. Knife and fork are placed side by side on the dinner plate at the 5:25 position when they are finished eating. It is considered bad-mannered to ask for a tour of your host's home. Belgian-Society-&-Culture: Belgium is not a standardized country with one national uniqueness. As such, it is so difficult to give a general overview that applies to all Belgians. Each area will have its own particularities. The three major cultures are: 1) North, Flanders - primarily Dutch, 2) South, Wallonia - primarily French and 3) Northeast - primarily German influenced. Belgian Family Values: Family plays a central role in most Belgian‘s life. The compulsion to the family is a person's first priority. Many people stay in the town in which they were raised, which creates close extensive families. Social equality in Belgian Society: Belgium is on the entire a democratic society. Women are not expected to change their name when they get married. There are laws governing paternity as well as maternity leaves and laws forbidding sexual irritation in the workplace. CULTURE SYSTEM IN INDIA The culture of Indian culture can be best expressed as comprising the following RELIGIONS SIZE Hinduism 80% Islam 13% Christians 23 million Sikhs 19 million Buddhists 8 million Jains 4 million Others 2 million Family structure and marriage: India has had a prevailing tradition of the joint family structure. It is a structure below which extended members of a family – parents, children, the children‘s spouses and their offspring, etc…live together. Generally, the oldest male member is the chief in the joint Indian family structure. He makes all important decisions and rules, and other family members stand by them. Greetings: Namaste‘ namaskar or Namaskara(Kannada) or Namaskaram (Telugu, Malayalam), Vanakkam (Tamil),Nomoshkaar (Bengali), Nomoskar (Assamese) is a common spoken greeting or salutation, though becoming considered old-fashioned by some. Namaskar is considered a little more formal version than Namaste but both express deep respect. Festivals: India being a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates holidays and festivals of different religions. The four national holidays in India, the Independence Day, the Republic Day, the Gandhi Jayanti, and May Day are celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm across India. In addition, many Indian states and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Names and language: Indian names are based on a multiplicity of systems and naming conventions, which vary from region to region. Names are also influenced by religion and caste and may come from the Indian epics. India's population speaks a large variety of languages such as: Hindi, Gujarati, and Bengali · Bhojpuri, English COMPARISON BETWEEN INDIAN AND BELGUIME CULTURE India Belgium People Indian people or Indians are Belgium is comprised of two people who are citizens of primary cultural groups. The India, which forms a main part Dutch-speaking Flemings live in of South Asia, containing Flanders, in the north, and make 17.31% of the world's up 55% of the population. The population French-speaking Walloons live in Wallonia, in the south, and make up 33% of the population. Meeting and Westerners may shake hands, Shake hands with everyone Greeting however, greeting with present -- men, women, and 'namaste' (an-mass-TAY) children -- at business and social (placing both hands together meetings. Shake hands again with a slight bow) is when leaving. appreciated and shows respect Repeat your name when being for Indian customs. introduced Men shake hands with men when meeting or leaving. Men do not touch women when meeting or greeting. Western women may offer their hand to a westernized Indian man, but not normally to others. Traditional Indian women may shake hands with foreign women but not usually with men. Language The certified language of the Dutch, French and German are all Republic of India is Standard widely spoken in Belgium. Hindi, while English is the secondary official language Body Language Indians usually allow an arm's It is considered impolite to snap length space between your fingers. themselves and others. Don't Do not put your hands in your stand close to Indians. Indians pockets, yawn, and scratch or use value personal space. toothpicks in public. Do not touch anyone's head. Feet should never be put on chairs The head is considered or tables. sensitive. Back slapping is considered offensive. The "okay" sign means zero. Corporate Culture Decisions are strongly Belgians tend to socialize for a influenced from the top. short period of time before they Usually one person makes all get down to business at meetings. major decisions. Attempt to Initial meetings are generally for deal with the highest-level getting acquainted and developing person available. trust. It is considered rude to plunge Business meetings are formal. into business discussions Personal relationships follow immediately. Ask about your business relationships. counterpart‘s family, interests, Belgians are known for hobbies, etc. before beginning compromise, negotiation and business discussions. common sense. They appreciate Business is slow and clear facts and figures. complicated in India. Be In Flanders, business organization polite, but persistent. Do not get angry if you are told is generally horizontal and something "can't be done." simple. Participatory Instead, restate your request management, active agreement firmly but with a smile. Plan and allocation of responsibility on several visits before you are general in the workplace. reach an agreement. Walloons prefer structure, formal You may be offered a sugary, organization, clear hierarchical milky tea, coffee or a soft systems and directive leadership. drink. Don‘t refuse. Note that Rules and procedures are your glass or cup may be important to Walloons, as are job refilled as soon as it is titles and rank. emptied. It is not acceptable to call a Indian counterparts may not Belgian businessperson at home show up for planned meetings. unless there is an emergency. Be prepared to rearrange. Dining and Strict accepted Muslims don't Accept any drink offered by your Entertainment drink any alcohol. Most host. Don't ask for a drink not Hindus, especially women,