As a result of possessing two very different cultural backgrounds (German, Uruguayan) we have chosen to select the most crucial points of cultural clashes between European and South American cultures and analyze both, the practical and theoretical issues which are involved. Due to the strict word limit, just three concepts are discussed in detail.

- The concept of cultural complexity

- And as a cultural characteristic the issue of time

The Kolbenschmidt AG, a German supplier for the automotive industry owns a subsidiary in Uruguay named Santa Rosa Auto Motores. Mr. Hedden, the General Manager from Kolbenschmidt is not satisfied with the recent sales figures from Santa Rosa in Uruguay. He decides to send Dr. Löser, a very experienced and trusted sales manager with excellent Spanish skills to Uruguay, in order to replace the current sales manager. Seeing it as a challenge, Dr. Löser accepts the job despite the fact of having no previous experience in the South American market. Mr. Hernandez, Santa Rosa’s local general manager agrees to Mr. Hedden’s plan after a fierce discussion regarding the introduction of a foreig

The managers, quietly and quickly, sit down. Mr. Hernandez having a privileged armchair at the head of the table, lights up a cigar before starting to speak. He introduces Dr. Löser to the other managers and vice versa, explains the situation of the company and its future prospect. Before the meeting is over Mr. Hernandez gives Dr. Löser his first task.

On his second day Dr. Löser gets a message from Mr. Hernandez’s secretary saying that the general manager would like to call in a meeting for introducing Dr. Löser to the top management at 11:00 am. Dr. Löser prepares for the meeting, arrives at the conference room at 10:45 am and finds himself all alone. The first participants arrive at five past eleven, Mr. Hernandez and the production manager at 11:15 am. Dr. Löser notices that the conversations stops, as soon as Mr. Hernandez enters the room.

2. The cultures of Uruguay and Germany have very different values and ways of communication. They are typical examples for High- (Uruguay) and Low- (Germany) context cultures as introduced by Hall in 1976 as the model of cultural complexity. Describe this model by evaluating appropriate parts of the case study.

Some topics in this essay:
Dr Löser, Uruguayan German, Santa Rosa’s, Dr Löser’s, Uruguay Argentina, Löser Cesar, dr löser, South American, Low- Germany, power distance, Hofstede Uruguay, German Uruguayan, low power distance, dr löser’s, cultural complexity, low power, low-context countries, speaking dad, sales manager, high-context cultures, low-context cultures, power distance index, day dr löser, behavior dr löser, subordinates considered basically,