In 1998, the German automaker Daimler-Benz and the U.S. automaker Chrysler formed what they called a ‘merger of equals.’ However
, Daimler’s culture was very formal and emphasized quality, while the American company had an informal ‘cowboy’ culture that emphasized cost control. A few years later, the merger was declared a failure. What lessons can we learn from this?
In general Germans and German companies are known for being formal, following the rules as strict as possible and regarding the quality of a product as the supreme issue that must not be taken lightly.
The Americans however are less formal, more (market) flexible and show a clear business attitude that focuses more on quantity in production.
Not to mention the social gap when it comes to the working conditions between the two cultures...
