AUSTRALIA

Daniela Fankhauser
Camilla Hercus
Carina Rauscher

Social, historical and

cultural factors

The Flag

The History
17th century Colonisation through
Europeans
1770 James Cook New South Wales
1788 First Fleet Transport of
Prisoners- Sydney
1901 six colonies became a federation
-Commonwealth of Australia was formed

The Land
Australia is 91 times bigger than Austria,
the population just 2.5 times
6 states
and 2 territories

Western Australia
New South Wales
South Australia
Northern Territory,
Queensland
Australian Capital Territory,
Victoria
Tasmania

The Population

21.9 million inhabitants (coming from more

than 120 different countries)

92 % of the people are of European descent

( 6% of Asian, 2% of Indigene)

Only 15 % of white population are not from

British/Irish descent

Important
Holidays

National Holiday: January 26

ANZAC Day: April 25

Melbourne Cup: first Tuesday of Nov.

Intercultural Dimensions
by Hofstede

Intercultural Dimensions by
Hofstede

PDI (Power Distance Index)

If you are working with or going to a
country with a higher PDI than yours then

Give clear and explicit directions

Be more authoritarian in your management
Show respect and deference to those higher up
the ladder
Do not expect subordinates to take initiative

IDV (Individualism)
If you are working or doing business in a
country with a higher individualism score
than yourself then:

Can't depend on the group for answers

Business and personal life may very well be
kept separate
Bear in mind that a certain amount of individual
expression is tolerated

MAS (Masculinity)
Below are some of the common traits found
in countries that score high on the
masculinity scale:

Life's priorities are achievement, wealth and

expansion
Women and men have different roles in society
Professionals often "live to work"

VAI (Uncertainty Avoidance)

If you are working or doing business in a
country with a lower uncertainty avoidance
score than yourself then:

Try to be more flexible or open in your approach

to new ideas than you may be used to
Allow employees the autonomy and space to
execute their tasks on their own

Communication

Direct vs. Indirect

More direct form of communication

Dont hide their feelings or opinions

when giving feedback

Attached vs. Detached

More detached form of

communication

Display of feelings not primary form of

communication

Low vs. High Context

Communication is more low context

High importance is placed on words

Tone and Volume

Australians often end statements on a

high note

Australians tend to be more soft

spoken

Silence

Silence can be laden with meaning

too
Can convey anger or indicate lack of
comfort
Avoid saying things you might regret

Greetings
Friendly and easy to get to know
Common greetings: Hello or How
are you

Entertaining
In a pub: each person pays for one
round
No unannounced visits. Australians
dont invite strangers to their homes
Express your opinions frankly

Gestures
Raising one or two fingers can be
considered as rude
Inappropriate for a man to wink at a
woman
Men should not be too physically
demonstrative with other men
Like to have at least two feet of
personal space

AUSTRALIA
Open LINK

Bibliography

Australia in the world : perceptions and possibilities ; papers

from the "Outside Images of Australia" ed. by Don Grant &
Graham Seal
Australien : eine interdisziplinre Einfhrung by Rudolf Bader
G'day boss!: Australian culture and the workplace by Barbara A.
West, Frances T. Murphy
Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands, 2nd edition by Terri Morrison and
Wayne A. Conway
The Macquarie Book of Slang, edited by James Lambert
Kwintessential (Hg.): Intercultural Business Communication.
Online verfgbar unter
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/intercultural-businesscommunication/tool.php?culture1=3&culture2=2, zuletzt geprft
am 14.12.2009.

Thanks for your attention