BUSINESS IN AFRICA


Africa is booming. From the ten fastest growing economies in the world, six are situated in Africa below the Sahara.


"If you are willing to invest, seek knowledge about the continent and think long term, every company can make a profit here," says business man Peter Bolt.

 


Collectivism and Power Distance are important dimensions in African culture. Within the light of such dimensions, employees' motivation and decisions differ considerably from the workforce that investing companies are used to.

Understanding cultural differences and exploring new patterns of management, organizational development and leadership skills, are inevitable.

The focus on tradition, on stability and on the present, together form another cluster of a dimension that deals with long term and short term orientation. Here, with obvious regional differences, Africa as a continent can be classified towards one tendency.

Yet on a fourth dimension, indulgence versus restraint, the African countries differ substantially among themselves.


 

I have lived in Western Africa for ten years and have worked as an advisor to local and regional governments and in the international development business.


Even a business with long years of experience in intercultural management needs to take its moments to reflect and look at the company with new eyes. You'll be amazed what you see and which new possibilities open up.


Don't hesitate, just give me a call.

Je parle français aussi.