NORWAY

Ali Hassan
Haasin Saleem
Muhammad Abdullah
Shan Haider
Shaharyar Naeem
 INTRODUCTION

• Situated: Northwestern Europe

• Capital: Oslo
• Currency: Norwegian krone
• Religion: Lutheran Christianity
• Population: 5.357 million
• Government: Constitutional monarchy
 REACTION TO STRANGERS

• Unsociable/Unfriendly
• Don’t ask for help
• Niether Personal or warm
• Meaningless chats are considered bothersome
• Their version of politeness is different
 AN INVITATION TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE

• A small gift is appreciated.

• Flowers may be sent the morning of a dinner party
• Do not give even numbers of flowers
• A houseplant is well received in the winter months.
• Do not give: carnations, bouquet of only white flowers, wreath
• Keep gifts small
 RUDE PHRASES, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OR HAND
GESTURES

• Certain gestures are considered rude

• (middle finger, waiving a pointed index finger, pointing at someone)
• Smiling is a facial expression Norwegians consider impolite
• The American OK sign can be read as an obscene gesture
• Norwegians may expect people of other cultures to use more gestures
 TOPICS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE
DISCUSSED

• Norwegians separate their business and personal lives in social settings

• Humor rarely has a place in business discussions
• One’s private life should not be discussed at all
• Personal comments should be avoided
• Most Norwegians discuss politics but not in business meetings
 TYPES OF CLOTHING

• Casual dressing
• 17th of May (National Day is serious... No joke)
• Casual clothes will certainly mark you out as a foreigner
• Men wear suits
• Women wear traditional (Bunad)
 TABLE MANNERS

• Table manners are more formal

• Toast
• Hands within sight
• Continental style (Fork in the left hand and the knife in the right)
• Do not begin eating until the host starts
• Fork and knife together in the 5:25 position
(sign that the plate can be removed)
 POLITICAL SITUATION

• Politically stable
• Private and public owned companies
• Foreign investments
(6000 foreign-owned limited companies)
• Journalists are free
 DISCUSSING POLITICS IN GATHERINGS

• Business gatherings
• Discuss only basic topic
• Work and play are kept separate
• Social gatherings include routine life conversations
• Job and money earning
• Politics not specifically discussed
 SACRED PLACES AND EVENTS

• Alta Rock Carvings

• Nidaros Cathedral
• Urnes Stave Church
• Ruins of Medieval Selje Abbay Monastrey and Church
 SACRED EVENTS

• Ester
• Ascension Day
• Whit Monday
 TOLERANCE FOR MINORITIES

• Promote respect and freedom of religion

• Human rights are taken care of
• Islamophobia is still arising even after multiple steps to spread equality
 RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS’ IMPACT ON
BUSINESS

• Ester
• Ascension Day
• Whit Monday
• Some holidays fall on the specific dates rather than actual dates
• Business not affected significantly
 SOCIETY (HOMOGENEOUS OR
HETEROGENEOUS)

• An emerging heterogeneous society.

• Various people with multi-cultural backgrounds.
• Immigration through Norwegian border.
 PRIMARY RESOURCES AND PRINCIPAL
PRODUCTS

Principal Products Primary Resources

• Exports: Crude Petroleum, Petroleum Gas, Non- • Oil & gas, hydropower, fishing, tourism, metals,
Fillet Fresh Fish, Raw Aluminum & Fish Fillets paper and chemical industry.
• Imports: Refined Petroleum, Nickel, Raw Aluminum,
Soybeans & Coffee
 TYPES OF BUSINESSES (LARGE, FAMILY
CONTROLLED OR GOVERNMENT
CONTROLLED)

• Equinor, Telenor, Norsk Hydro,Yara International are large businesses.

• The Norwegian state owns a large number of business enterprises.
 SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS

• Norwegians are seriously punctual.

• Breaking trust leads to damaged relationships.
 SOCIALIZATION IN BUSINESS

• Informal style
• Transactional Relationships
• Direct Communication
• Individual Interests
 MONEY OR GIFTS IN BUSINESS
TRANSACTIONS

• Gift giving is not a part of Norwegian business culture.

• Gift Policy
• Excessive Gift is considered as bribe
• Carnations, lilies or white flowers are reserved for funerals.
 ATTITUDE TOWARDS WORK AND
MONEY

• Often Short Work Days, 7:30am to 3:30pm.

• No Organograms-flat structures and Informal Communication.
• Family Takes Huge Priority at work
• Live to work Versus work in order to live
• If delayed even 5 minutes, it is polite to telephone and explain the situation.
• It is often difficult to schedule meetings during July and August.
 BUSINESS OVER TELEPHONE, FAXES, AND
EMAILS WITHOUT PERSONAL INTERACTION

• Appointments are necessary, as far as in advance over phone.

• Appointments may be made in writing or by telephone.
• No small talk. Norwegians prefer to get to the business discussion quickly.
• Avoid hype or exaggeration.
• If writing, address the letter to the head of the division.
• Send an agenda before the meeting.
 THANK YOU
TAKK SKAL DU HA