Get a (good) life in Denmark

Helping highly educated foreigners to thrive in Denmark Once a month, two large Danish manufacturing companies situated in Jutland and on Zealand offer Danish Living Crash Courses to newly arrived foreign employees and their spouses. The aim is to assure that highly educated foreign employees and managers thrive in Denmark, i.e. have a basic knowledge […]

Understanding the French and South Koreans – Country specific cross-cultural training

A Danish oil company was to build a new platform in the North Sea. The Danish company signed a contract with a French engineering company to design the platform, and with a South Korean shipbuilder to be responsible for the construction. Decoding the French ”C’est pas possible” A Danish project group moved to the French […]

German Business Culture in Denmark

Creating mutual understanidng A German food manufacturer had acquired a Danish company. The Danish employees encountered new challenges based on cultural differences: the German decision-making, employee management and communication style were far from what the Danes were used to. LIVING INSTITUTE designed and facilitated a two-hour cultural awareness workshop for the company’s Innovation and Technology […]

Starting a new life in South Africa

expatriate counselling for two Danes starting up a sales office in Cape Town. Together with their families, they wanted to prepare their new life in South Africa. LIVING INSTITUTE designed and conducted two consultations. The first session for the working spouses concerned: – Doing Business in South Africa, focusing on the main cultural differences relevant […]

From Chennai to Copenhagen: Get ready for collaboration

‘Why are Danes so Weird?’ Preparing the Indian team for working with their Danish colleagues LIVING INSTITUTE conducted a series of workshops in Chennai, India. The team in the South Indian affiliate of the Danish engineering company, Rambøll, expressed a great need to understand what motivates their Danish colleagues: – How do they consider deadlines? […]

Diversity in Danish Hospitals – Inclusion and Diversity

Harvesting the benefits of diversity in Danish hospitals The professional teams in the hospitals of Southern Denmark are diverse when it comes to gender, educational background, professional competences and cultural point of origin. LIVING INSTITUTE conducted a series of workshops aiming to harvest the benefits of diversity and to create a common sense of belonging.

Analyzing and Identifying Company Culture

Analysis by LIVING INSTITUTE RESEARCH LIVING INSTITUTE RESEARCH has conducted a significant qualitative analysis of the company culture of a medium-sized Danish manufacturing company. The management invited LIVING INSTITUTE to conduct this analysis as the company has faced radical changes in composition of staff, size and strategic focus. The management asked LIVING INSTITUTE RESEARCH to […]

Reconciliation of cultural differences between India and Northern Europe

LIVING INSTITUTE’s Global Task Force in Surat, India LIVING INSTITUTE conducted a one-day workshop focusing on cross-cultural team collaboration between an Indian and a Northern European team working together in Surat, India. Observation 1: – Keeping deadlines “It seems that it is more important for the Northern European team than for the Indian team to […]

“We bring a lawyer and a contract. The Japanese bring a cup of tea.”

Negotiating with the Japanese: What are the similarities and what are the potential pitfalls? The Danish medico company, Alk Abello, contacted LIVING INSTITUTE to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese business culture, after having agreed upon a large contract covering development and license of a product manufactured by the Japanese. Observation: ‘When we arrive at […]

Working with the Danes – why are they so weird?

Workshop for team-members and managers. The employees from an R&D department in a Danish manufacturing company got new colleagues with Indian, German, Polish, Italian backgrounds, working both in Denmark and abroad. The foreigners were keen to learn about their Danish colleagues’ behaviour by answering some of the questions below: – Why all these meetings? – […]

Is there a difference between how questions are asked in Poland and in Denmark?

Conducting a survey in Poland/Denmark A Danish manufacturer of construction material was preparing a questionnaire for clients in Denmark and Poland. The main concerns were: – is it possible to ask the same open questions in Poland as asked in Denmark? – what must one pay attention to regarding dress codes and meeting cultures? – […]

Optimizing integration of foreigners in Western Jutland

Successful integration of foreigners A major number of employees in Danish municipalities and job centres are responsible for integrating foreign employees and their families into the local community and assure that they thrive – both at work and social. To ensure a fruitful and constructive dialogue with the families, it is essential that the public […]

Enhancing scientific research through cultural awareness

Awareness of cultural prejudices A team of scientists from Denmark and the US has been tasked to present results important to the company’s strategy. The team were challenged by the differences in culture and norms. The consequences were lack of coordination and integration of the results as well as insufficient communication between the team members. […]

Sharing knowhow across the Atlantic

Culturally intelligent behavioural change Danish specialists travelled to the US to share their expertise with local experts under the concept: ‘It’s my way or the highway!’ The modest Danes found it difficult to get the respect they ought to have as global leading experts in their field. LIVING INSTITUTE facilitated a two-day workshop about cultural […]

How to assure successful integration of Danish and British company cultures

Mergers and Acquisitions A large Danish environmental player asks: Does our old Danish company culture match our British affiliate’s company culture? After a recent acquisition of a British company, the Danish management demanded assistance to assure that the cultural differences did not become a hindrance for a successful integration of the two companies. LIVING INSTITUTE […]

“Quadratisch, Praktisch, Gut… Und de dumme Dänen”

Cross-cultural training: Eliminating the barriers hindering intercultural collaboration. Danes think they know the Germans and the Germans think they know the Danes. How does a German group with affiliates in Denmark tackle the prejudice and stereotypes between Danes and Germans? How to eliminate the barriers that damage intercultural collaboration? LIVING INSTITUTE facilitated workshops for the […]

Managing Chinese employees

Danish company entering a new market One of the largest Danish manufacturing companies is building a production facility outside Beijing, manned with only local employees. The Danish department will manage recruitment and the daily operation from Denmark. LIVING INSTITUTE facilitated a two-day workshop for the Danish department, consisting of managers, experts, back office and administration. […]

Optimizing knowledge-sharing between Indian and Danish colleagues

Cross-cultural team collaboration 20 Indian software developers visit their Danish colleagues at the Danish headquarter to share knowledge mutually. LIVING INSTITUTE facilitated a one-day workshop for the Danish and Indian employees with the objective to create a mutual desire to work together and to create a forum of sharing essential knowledge. – What are the […]

Preparing Danish nurses to work effectively with new colleagues from abroad

Enhancing cultural intelligence and collaboration skills Danish hospitals are hiring an increasing number of foreign nurses. This generates new challenges for Danish nurses. Danish nurses are among the most autonomous and self-managing in the world. Therefore, they need some cultural insight to understand their new colleagues. For example, some nurses come from cultures where the […]