1. Doing Business with Sweden
Prepared by:Manpreet Kaur Grewal
Sumit Malhotra
Nancy Sood
2. Interesting Facts
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Capital: Stockholm
Population: 9.5 million (85% live in urban areas)
Area: 450,000 sq.km = 174 000 sq.mi.
Official Name: Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden)
Official Language: Swedish
National Anthem: “Du Gamla, du fria, du fjallhoga nord”
(Thou Ancient, Thou Free, Thou Mountain-Crowned North.”
• National Holiday: Flag Day, June 6
3. Resources
• Sweden's chief crops are grains, sugar beets,
potatoes, meat, and milk, barley, oats, and
wheat.
5. Economy
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Sweden constructed an economy based on free enterprise, public
ownership of utilities, exports, social welfare, and high taxes.
Most important export industries: Mechanical engineering, automotive,
information and communication technology, pulp & paper, power
generation, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, transport services and tourism.
Most important import goods and services: Foodstuffs, raw materials and
fuels, chemical products, machinery, electrical equipment, information &
communication products and services, road motor vehicles, textile products
& apparel, tourism.
6. Economy cont.
• Sweden’s major trading partners are the
European Union, the United States, and Norway
7. Religion and Spiritual Beliefs
• Sweden’s religion consists of 87% Lutheran,
Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, and other.
• Christianity was introduced in 829 but became
fully established in the 12th century.
8. Religion cont.
• The Wasa Dynasty slowly introduced Lutheran
Christianity and in 1604 banned Catholicism.
• Lutheranism was Sweden’s official religion
from about 1540 to 2000.
9. Learning and Technology
• The Swedish government requires children from
7 to 16 years of age to attend school.
• Elementary and high school education are free
for Swedish children.
10. Arts and Crafts
• Sweden made it’s greatest contribution to the
arts in the field of industrial design with
harmonious textiles, furniture, glassware, and
ceramics.
11. Business Culture in Sweden
• Most Swedish businessmen would be surprised if they were
told that their business culture differs greatly from the
international norm.
• Management is based on the idea that the individual is willing
and able to do a good job.
• Swedish businessesmen try to solve problems in an informal
and practical way.
12. Travel Facts
• An average June day in Sweden can have 17,
19, or 24 hours of daylight.
• The time difference between New York and
Sweden is 6 hours later.
• You do not need a visa to travel to Sweden.
13. • Most Swedes have a working knowledge of English.
• Some of the holidays in Sweden include:
– 1 January
New Year’s Day
– 6 January
Epiphany
– 1 May
May Day
– 6 June
National Day/ Liberation Day
– 24-25 December
Christmas
– 31 December
New Year’s Day
14. Business Expectations
• The handshake is the standard greeting for men
and women.
• Use a formal form of address when greeting or
making introductions.
• Punctuality is important in both business and
social functions.
15. • In general, Swedes do not use many gestures and have quiet
natures.
• Acceptable conversation topics include:
– Sports
– Sightseeing
– Travel
– Politics
• Inappropriate topics include:
– Personal topics
– Complaints about how things are run
16. Etiquette
• If you are invited to a Swedish home:
– Toasts before a meal.
– Dining Style.
– Giving gifts.
– After dinner.
Notas del editor
This presentation cover
Business culture
Traveling to
Business Expectations
Etiquette
A Swedish manager will tend to think of himself as a coach rather than a commander, and delegates tasks frequently
Even if it means bypassing one or more layers of executives.
Swedish employees often report to more than one manager.
Business wear in conservative with suits for both men and women.
Makeup and jewelry is minimal.
Casual dress is very similar to the U.S. except that shorts are worn only for hiking or jogging.
You can see the sun at Midnight in certain cities.
An average January day can have 6-7 hours of daylight.
The time difference between California and Sweden is 9 hours later.
You can pass freely between the Netherland or Dutch states.
Smoking is generally restricted to designated areas and outside.
It is always nice to learn some key phrases in the national language.
Do you speak English
Hello
Good day
Good night
Yes
No
Excuse me
Where is the restroom
Thank you
Please
Help
Banks, most museums, and stores are closed on these dates.
Waving when greeting another person from a distance is acceptable, but shouting is considered impolite.
Business cards are typically exchanged at initial meetings.
Such as Mr., Mrs., President, or Your Honor.
You must be invited to move to a first name basis.
In business, titles are used more in writing then in conversation
Eye contact should be maintained during a conversation
Avoid standing too close during conversations.
Organization is preferred over chaos.
One should conform to the standard of the country they are in.
Conversation
Especially skiing
Especially about Sweden
Criticisms of other peoples or systems should always be avoided.
Invitation
Stand quietly outside the doorway to the entrance of the House until you are invited in.
When in inside the house remove shoes and wait again until you are asked to sit down.
When you are sitting wait for the host’s invitation to start eating.
Toasts
Impolite to drink before the host has given a toast.
Say “Skal” after toast.
This is a custom from the Vikings. They would drink mead out of their enemy’s skulls.
Dinning Style.
Typically continental.
Fork steadfastly held in the left hand and the knife held in the right.
Keep wrists on the table.
Gifts
Invited to dinner bring wrapped gift:
flowers
Liqueurs
Wine
Liquor
Fine chocolates
Business gifts only after a relationship has been developed.
Gifts include desk accessories or books.
After dinner.
You should leave around 10 or 11 P.M. ( Your host will not usually ask you to leave).
