- The intrinsic differences due to a specific country style?
- The way a company has developed an own branding saying This is how we do business?
- Characteristics that belong to a certain type of industry/vertical?
- The usage of a typical company owned process?
- The communication style used as driving business element?
It does not really matter if you would call it Mickey Mouse or Donald duck, business culture counts! Supply Chain and Purchasing are just some of the functional domains where the impact could be significant if not properly managed.
You might be a true expert in this area but without understanding the exposure, company context and business style specifics you will certainly fail. Being the Supply Chain professor without being emphatic, creative and communicatively strong is just not good enough.
When dealing with European people you will not only be facing the different languages but also the need exists to develop and potentially adapt your strategy in function of the targeted country or company. Leading negotiations or securing operational elements is different in France compared to Germany just like a Renault car is not the same as a Volkswagen.
Its like a double cloud surrounding your Supply Chain organisation and services. On the inside the company style cloud, on the outside the cultural cloud. Quite obvious that you can change that centre of activity into Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, Research & Development, Finance, etc.
By understanding the differences you will drive the performance of your Supply Chain across borders in a much better and efficient way.
Do not remain stuck in the Iceland problem but move ahead!