ABSTRACT

This study examines France's determination to remain aloof and unaffected as the world economy threatens the French way of doing business. Describing the difficulty in initiating change in French organizations, the author tells of the obstacles he encountered in attempting to modernize the working practices of a Paris firm. His observations are based upon customs and habits peculiar to the French, yet they apply equally to all foreign cultures. Management methods, attitudes to the outside world, and the historic roots of the French mentality are viewed and explained anecdotally, based on the author's experience of living and working in France, and are accompanied by humorous illustrations.

part One|41 pages

Learning to Love Hierarchy

chapter 1|11 pages

The Perils of Cultural Cross-Dressing

chapter 2|11 pages

Spotting Those Barriers to Change

chapter 3|12 pages

The Big Standoff in the Workplace

chapter 4|5 pages

The Missing Interface at the Top

part Two|31 pages

What Makes Them Tick

chapter 5|8 pages

Managing Uncontrolled Spontaneity

chapter 6|8 pages

Privacy: Don't Ask Me Where I Live

chapter 7|6 pages

Considering ‘Foolish Consistency'

chapter 8|7 pages

Elitism at its Best and Worst

part Three|27 pages

Eating and Talking – What They Do Best

chapter 9|7 pages

How Quickly the Barriers Crumble

chapter 10|12 pages

Words: The Subtlest Weapon

chapter 11|6 pages

The Crooked Road Forward