Germany and Italy are separated by only 70 kilometres on the shortest route. Yet, in some respects, the two countries are worlds apart. Why? And what does it mean for business management?
General conditions, market dynamics, cultural expectations of managers: these are the areas in which the major differences between Germany and Italy are evident. Differences that interim managers need to recognise and take into account.
Formalisation versus flexibility
In Germany, interim management is an established tool. In Italy – where it is called ‘interim management’ – the market is constantly growing, but it is often less formalised.
Interim managers have to integrate quickly into existing structures and often have to go through complex stakeholder management processes; decision-making processes are more flexible and customised. Whereas in Germany interim managers are expected to have a high level of implementation and methodological skills, in Italy personal behaviour is crucial in addition to professional competence. Here, management is based more on trust and direct communication, so maintaining good relations is crucial. Temporary managers are often placed through recommendations and personal contacts.
Meetings can be more informal and more open for discussion. Communication depends on the context and the situation – sometimes it is surprisingly lively. Top management also makes decisions at executive level without involving their second level.
A German superior of mine, who had attended a management meeting, once told me: ‘There was a lot of discussion, I couldn’t follow it and I don’t know exactly what was decided in the end. However, I saw that an agreement was reached and it seems to be working, as confirmed by your great success‘.
New: Fractional Management
A more recent development is called “Fractional Management”. Managers work part-time for several companies at the same time and for a longer period. This model has become more established in recent years, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs, PMI, KMU). Italy has a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack the financial resources for a full-time manager. Fractional managers offer a cost-effective managment solution.
Rely on a partner who knows markets, structures and cultural nuances
Whether a classic full-time or part-time: the complex challenges of cross-border business cannot be tackled with specialist knowledge alone. Only those who know and understand hierarchies, communication styles and culturally determined decision-making processes can unite the two worlds – based on first-hand experience gained in practice.
It is useful to know the market well, even when a company has never been active there before.
I know the German and Italian markets and how to overcome language barriers and cultural obstacles. That is why I take on interim management and action-oriented consulting assignments (with or without board position) in both Germany and Italy.
So, if you are facing a major change: really get to the bottom of things and make use of the opportunities. I will support you with in-depth understanding, assertiveness and the right pace. In a pragmatic way and thinking outside the box.
