This presentation was supposed to be a part of the training program for the expats in case they are going to Russia in order to help them understand the Wide Russian Soul and give some tips on business behavior.

1. Welcome to Mother –
Russia!
intercultural training course
Subject: Managing Across Culture
Prof: Pr. Carbonnel
By: Daria Chizhova

2. Welcome!
Briefly about the program
This program will contain:
- Brief introduction into Russian history,
geography, politics and realities
- Russian Culture
- Tips for foreigners
- Business etiquette description: how to do
business in Russia, with Russians
- Quiz “Can u think like Russian already?” 

3. While you enjoy some
welcoming canapés..

4. Big Russia…
Official name - The Russian Federation
Capital city - Moscow
Official Language - Russian
Currency - Russian rouble (RUR) 1CHF = 33,247 RUR
Total area - 17,098,242 sq km
Population - 142,500,482 million
Ethnic Group - Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%,
Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1%
Religion - Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%,
other Christian 2%

6. Strong Russia…
Legal system - civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts
GDP - real growth rate - 3.4% (2012 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP) - $17,700 (2012 est.)
Unemployment rate - 5.7% (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 5.1% (2012 est.)

7. Geert Hofstede Dimensions

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9. Russian traits of the characters or
guidelines to become Russian (I)
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If you're invited for a meal…
We value generosity
Some of us are naturally indifferent
Some of us are quite emotional
We love trends
We are not politically correct
We don't feel easy about talking to strangers
on the street
Some of us think that foreigners are very rich
Women and old women are very respected
Beware of the babushkas 
If you are invited - bring something with you
and don’t wear shoes in the apartment

10. Guidelines to become Russian (I)
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If invited woman - be prepared to pay for her
No, Russians are not racists
Yes, we love vodka, but we're not alcoholics
Yes, we are superstitious
Russians learn English at school - but are shy
to speak to a stranger
We express what we feel, but we're not
extrovert
Most Russians feel strange about gays and
lesbians
Smoking is a national sport
If you are a vegetarian, chances are you are
one of those Hare Krishna guys 

11. Russian cuisine
• Russia has long-lasting cold winter
• The food should give us much energy
• Essential components should provide more
carbohydrates and fat rather than proteins
• Top five components of a Russian meal are
potatoes, bread, eggs, meat (especially
beef) and butter

12. Tips for foreigners
•
Take care about adaptors for electronic
devices
•
Shops are open 24/7
•
Tips in restaurants are usually 10% of the bill
•
Don’t drink tap water!
•
Car traffic is awful in Moscow
•
Subway ticket – 30 Roubles
•
Check for National Holidays, they last forever
•
Internet access is available almost everywhere

13. Business. Management Style and
Power Distribution:
• Decision makers higher
up have authority over
their subordinates
• Behavior has to reflect
and represent the status
roles in all areas of
business interactions
• Initiative is punishable

14. Dresscode
• Dress code
“one meet you
depending on how you're
dressed and say good bye
depending on how wise
you seem to be”
• Russian businesspeople pay
a lot of attention to how
they are dressed

15. Gifts
• Russians take
pleasure in
giving and
receiving gifts,
they spend a
lot of money
on gifts
• Bringing a
bouquet of
flowers for
women

16. Working Relationship and
Communication (I)
• Persistence and
patience are
essential. Once your
appointment is
scheduled, do
everything you can
to avoid cancellation
• Faxes and emails are
the best way to
communicate in
Russia, as the post
can often be
unreliable
• Visitors should try to
speak in a
calm, moderate, ton
e of voice at all times
• Your Russian
colleagues will be
delighted if you
make the effort to
speak even a few
sentences of their
language

17. Working Relationship and
Communication (II)
• Russians are sometimes • The handshake is
very careful about what
common
they say, speaking
metaphorically,
• Eye contact is very
symbolically, and
important, must be
perhaps even cryptically maintained as long as
the individual is
• Bringing up the subject
addressing you
of Russian culture and
history is appreciated
• Physical contact during
business meetings is a
• Compliments - with
positive sign
caution, they may cause
a feeling of misplaced
obligation

18. Working Relationship and
Communication (III)
•
Personal and informal contact is a
central part in doing business in Russia
•
In situations of conflict - avoid taking
an official stance as Russians will
respond to a more personal
approach
•
Business cards are essential, if
possible, ensure that one side is
printed in Russian and one side in
English
•
Although many principal concerns
are discussed in an informal
environment final negotiations will be
conducted in the office

19. Final Do’s and Don’ts (I)
• DO shake hands firmly when
greeting and leaving your Russian
partners and make direct eye
contact
• DO partake in small talk, which
normally involves talk of family
and personal matters, before
dealing with business
• DO take a gift that symbolizes the
stature of your company and the
importance of the impending
business deal

20. Final Do’s and Don’ts (II)
• DON'T be afraid to show
some emotion, the
Russians won't!
• DON'T as the Russian
proverb states 'hurry to
reply', but 'hurry to listen’
• DON'T praise or reward
anyone in public as it
may be viewed with
suspicion or cause envy
and jealousy

21. Quiz time! True or False
based on your intuition
1. It is considered good luck to shake hands
over the threshold of the doorstep
2. When taking flowers as a gift you must only
take an odd number
3. If you leave something behind in Russia it
means you're coming back

22. Bibliography
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworld-factbook/geos/rs.html
http://geert-hofstede.com/russia.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOPuvTMndI
s
http://www.communicaid.com/cross-culturaltraining/culture-for-business-andmanagement/doing-business-in/Russian-businessand-social-culture.php
http://www.waytorussia.net/node/4359

23. Thanks for Your attention and Good Luck!