London, Barcelona, Dubai
Flu viruses and YouTube videos don't stop at borders in their world wide distribution. They also don't know intercultural differences. As far as cross border gas pipelines are concerned though – especially in Russia and the Ukraine – that's a different story.
Which role do intercultural difficulties play when people of an international company such as the GEA Group work together globally? Do people from India and the USA tackle a task the same way? Do the clocks tick differently in Brazil than in the United Arab Emirates, and how does that affect their teamwork?
How do we organize our teamwork in general? Of course – we travel a lot to visit clients and attend critical meetings personally on location. And then there is always telephone, email, and video conferences. But all of the above is not a real substitute for personal exchange from time to time: some things are better discussed face to face. That is why the management teams of all GEA Group companies meet twice a year anywhere on the globe to discuss important strategies – and to enjoy a beer or two while chatting about this, that, and the other.
