Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/58915
The European Union is a complex amalgamation of independent nations. A residency program at a European school can teach international executives how to slip through the cultural barriers and effectively conduct business in the EU. by Christopher Cripps At Home with Business A s business becomes increasingly international, it's imperative that executives around the world understand the cultures and practices of the countries where their companies operate. One of the most complex regions in the world is the European Union, which contains 25 countries, 25 national cul- tures, and countless subcultures for businesspeople to negotiate. Regulations, working conditions, and business protocols all vary greatly from country to country. Despite the fact that international executives routinely find them- selves doing business in Europe, many of them are not well pre- pared for the challenges they will face. Business schools that operate in the EU have a unique opportunity to offer executive education programs that familiarize managers with the situations and settings that await them once they start doing business in Europe. Taking advantage of its location in France, the Grenoble Ecole de Management has developed European residency programs that can be customized for visiting executives from many nations. We keep the size of groups to 20 or 40 people and conduct programs in English over seven to ten days. Participants may stay in Grenoble for the duration of the program or travel to other parts of Europe to observe contrasting views of business in cities such as Geneva, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Brussels, Vienna, and Warsaw. Two-thirds of our program participants come from the U.S. and Canada. The next biggest group is from China and other parts of Southeast Asia. We believe executives develop a broader perspective on doing business in Europe when the program focuses on seven key areas. We also believe that, if it offers an appropriate mix of topics and activities, even a short residency program can provide an extremely valuable education for non-European managers. 42 BizEd JULY/AUGUST 2006