Culture Smart! Norway steers you through social and professional encounters, enabling visitors to establish real friendships and business partnerships. Tips on meeting and communicating make socializing a pleasant experience, and chapters on customs give a glimpse inside a Norwegian home. The book also describes how the Norwegian commercial world operates—vital information for anyone doing business with one of the world’s wealthiest nations. The need to survive on a difficult, isolated terrain and in harsh climates forged a people who are hardworking and self-sufficient. On first meeting, the Norwegians are serious, polite, law-abiding, and hardy. They are also very private, and getting to know them takes time. But when visitors are able to see behind that façade they will meet the friendly, fun-loving, family-oriented people hiding on the other side.
Author(s): Culture Smart!, Linda March, Margo Meyer
Series: Culture Smart!
Edition: 2
Publisher: Kuperard
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 168
Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 2
About the Author......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Map of Norway......Page 8
Introduction......Page 9
Key Facts......Page 11
Chapter 1: Land and People......Page 13
• Geography......Page 14
• Climate......Page 15
• A Brief History......Page 19
• Norway’s Towns......Page 29
• Government and Politics......Page 32
• Norwegian Oil......Page 33
• Norway’s Place in the Region......Page 34
• Cooperation......Page 37
• Fairness......Page 38
• Equality......Page 39
• Patience......Page 41
• Natural Reserve......Page 42
• Wealth and Generosity......Page 43
• Royalty......Page 44
• God’s Own Country......Page 45
• Nature......Page 46
• Everyman’s Right......Page 47
• Work to Live, not Live to Work......Page 48
• Consensus and Nonconfrontation......Page 49
• Attitudes Toward Foreigners......Page 50
• The Norwegian Year......Page 53
• Flag Flying Days......Page 54
• Religious Festivals......Page 56
• Nonreligious Celebrations......Page 59
• Religion......Page 63
• Family Occasions......Page 64
Chapter 4: Making Friends......Page 67
• Work and Social Life......Page 68
• Greetings......Page 69
• Hospitality......Page 70
• Gift Giving......Page 73
• Dressing for the Occasion......Page 74
• Learning the Language......Page 75
• Joining Clubs and Societies......Page 76
• Expatriate Associations......Page 78
• Quality of Life......Page 79
• Let There be Light......Page 80
• Living Conditions......Page 81
• Landscape and Architecture......Page 83
• A House in the Country......Page 84
• Rent or Buy?......Page 85
• The Norwegian Family......Page 87
• Daily Life and Routine......Page 88
• Attitudes Toward Children......Page 89
• Education......Page 92
• Changing Lifestyles......Page 95
Chapter 6: Time Out......Page 97
• Shopping......Page 98
• Tax Back for Tourists......Page 99
• Banks and Currency......Page 100
• Eating Out......Page 101
• Service......Page 103
• Alcohol......Page 105
• Smoking......Page 107
• High Culture......Page 108
• Festivals and Events......Page 110
• Leisure......Page 112
• Sports......Page 113
• Skiing......Page 114
• The Great Outdoors......Page 116
Chapter 7: Travel, Health, and Safety......Page 117
• ID and Residency......Page 118
• Cars and Driving......Page 119
• Air Travel......Page 124
• Trains......Page 125
• Buses, Streetcars, and Underground......Page 127
• Boats and Ferries......Page 128
• Cycling......Page 130
• Where to Stay......Page 131
• Health and Security......Page 133
Chapter 8: Business Briefing......Page 135
• The Office......Page 136
• Working Hours and Timekeeping......Page 137
• Lunch Breaks......Page 139
• Trade Unions......Page 140
• Workforce Disputes and Labor Law......Page 141
• Management Model......Page 143
• The Glass Ceiling Broken?......Page 144
• Board Meetings and Decision Making......Page 146
• Presentations......Page 147
• Negotiation......Page 148
• Contracts and Fulfillment......Page 149
• Establishing a Business in Norway......Page 151
• Language......Page 153
• Conversation......Page 155
• Body Language......Page 156
• Humor......Page 157
• TV and Radio......Page 158
• Newspapers......Page 160
• Telephones......Page 161
• Mail......Page 162
• The High-Tech Norwegian......Page 163
• Conclusion......Page 164
Copyright......Page 166
Index......Page 167
