Italy

Compiled by Nick Carletta

The Italian culture is both very similar and very different from that of the Organization. In order to make Italians comfortable in the United States, a few things need to be kept in mind, as well as alterations made to certain behaviors. All of these are covered in this portion of the report; more specifically, greetings, board room habits, cuisine, communication, education, entertainment, religion, and rooming expectations.

Greetings

Italians are very expressive in the way they talk; they can be very loud and use a lot of motions and gestures. They tend not to get right down to business because they like to talk for a while to get to know the people around them first ("Italy"). Italians will also evaluate people immediately so first impressions are very important ("Italy"). Italians will look at how people dress and how people behave in the first minute to get an opinion that is very hard to change ("Italy"). Also, make sure to add education and position in the organization to any business card because it is very important for Italians to know where someone stands in the organization ("Italy"). Lastly, knowing Italian or having a translator is a plus (Burgess). Most Italians are skilled English speakers, but they will be impressed by use of their native language.

Boardroom Etiquette

Italians have some specific rules for the boardroom that must be followed. As stated in the last section, first impressions are very important, so dress very well and treat everyone with respect. When first meeting someone, a handshake with direct eye contact will suffice until the Italian knows the person better; air kissing and patting may occur once familiarity has been reached (Burgess). As for the actual meeting, give plenty of notice at least two or three weeks and make sure it is written in Italian ("Italy"). Another note is that Italians tend to take the month of August off so do not schedule any events then (Burgess). Italians expect punctuality; they will be offended if associates are late (Burgess). Many meetings are conducted over a meal, usually lunch, since that is the biggest meal of the day; lunch can sometimes last up to three hours (Burgess). Lastly, since the Italians are very passionate about their work, expect heated debates and lots of raised voices.

Dining

Italians have a much more diverse menu than an average Italian restaurant here in America. A breakdown of foods by region is in Appendix F. All of the listed foods are favorites and they will eat from the other areas as well.
There are distinct rules when dining with Italians. Unlike business meetings, Italians will not be offended if not everyone is punctual ("Italy"). Italians also follow the lead of the host or hostess and will not sit or get up from the table until the host or hostess does so ("Italy"). Italians hold the fork in their left hand and the knife in their right at all times; they do not switch hands as Americans do ("Italy"). An Italian that cleans his or her plate wants more food; if they are satisfied, they will leave a small amount of food on their plate or wine in their glass ("Italy"). Last, make sure to accept offers made by Italians unless it is impossible to attend, since they will take it as an insult (Burgess). This is especially true if there is not a good reason (Burgess). By taking note of these rules, the Organization can make sure it does not offend Italian guests.

Communication

Italians have a very specific style of communication that differs in a few key ways from our own. First, the conversation must keep going; the conversation will be considered over if there is a moment of silence (Burgess). Also, do not go straight to business at the start of the conversation ("Italy"). Talk casually and let the Italian move on to business. Use common sense about conversation topics; they do not differ from Americans on this issue. Talk about their culture or current events (Burgess). Avoid talking about politics, Italian stereotypes, the Mafia, or World War II (Burgess). Last, make sure to remain confident and establish style since doing this will impress the Italians.

Education

Italians value a good education and will form their opinion of everyone they meet partially based on educational background ("Italy"). Italy has a robust education system, so their people are well educated and expect the same of work associates (NationMaster). Almost all of the Italian people make it through secondary schooling; most Italians will have at least a basic understanding of any topics covered during the conference (NationMaster).

Religion

Almost all Italians are Roman Catholics in no small part due to the Vatican being located in the heart of their capital city. Italians have one of the highest churches per capita in the world but they do not rank particularly high when it comes to church attendance ("Italy"). Despite low church attendance, their belief in Catholicism is strong and it plays a role in their business and business decisions ("Italy"). Each trade has a specific patron saint associated with it and religious objects will frequently be seen in their offices ("Italy").

Entertainment

Italians can be very simple to entertain since they are very similar to the US in this area, but there are a few notable differences. They appreciate a good long meal with good food, family, and friends (Burgess). They also enjoy going to their favorite activities, such as sports (especially soccer), opera, films, or just getting a snack (Burgess). The Italians should be easy to entertain; if a poor choice of entertainment is made, the Italians will be vocal about their displeasure.

Accommodations

Appearance is very important, so a nice hotel room will go a long way with the Italians. If they are put in a cheap room, they will think that it is all that the organization can afford and will have a negative impression of the Organization. If the Organization puts forth extra money for nicer rooms, they will be impressed and treat everyone in the Organization with respect. The room can say a lot about a host to an Italian without the host having to speak a word.

Summary

Meeting with Italians is very simple as long as a few key points are followed. Italians are very passionate, value appearance, and value relationships. So make sure to get to know Italian associates well, treat them with respect, dress well, be confident, and do not be afraid to argue. By following these basic points, anyone should find success with their Italian colleagues.