The 7 Dimensions of Trompenaars

People place a high importance on laws, rules, values, and obligations. They try to deal fairly with people based on these rules, but rules come before relationships.

People believe that each circumstance, and each relationship, dictates the rules that they live by. Their response to a situation may change, based on what's happening in the moment, and who's involved.

People keep work and personal lives separate. As a result, they believe that relationships don't have much of an impact on work objectives, and, although good relationships are important, they believe that people can work together without having a good relationship.

People see an overlap between their work and personal life. They believe that good relationships are vital to meeting business objectives, and that their relationships with others will be the same, whether they are at work or meeting socially. People spend time outside work hours with colleagues and clients.

People want to find ways to express their emotions, even spontaneously, at work. In these cultures, it's welcome and accepted to show emotion.

People make a great effort to control their emotions. Reason influences their actions far more than their feelings. People don't reveal what they're thinking or how they're feeling.

People believe that you should be valued for who you are. Power, title, and position matter in these cultures, and these roles define behavior.

People believe that you are what you do, and they base your worth accordingly. These cultures value performance, no matter who you are.

People like events to happen in order. They place a high value on punctuality, planning (and sticking to your plans), and staying on schedule. In this culture, "time is money," and people don't appreciate it when their schedule is thrown off.

People see the past, present, and future as interwoven periods. They often work on several projects at once, and view plans and commitments as flexible.