Interview 1Interviewee: Mrs. Anne-Marie MeranesioEmployment: Nowadays unemployed, but was a chemist in time Nationality: FrenchAge: 77
- How is the relationship between children and parents?
Italian parents protect their children a lot. The children are very close to their parents. Italian mums can be called “Mère poule” (= mother hen) because they overprotect their children.
- Did your parents allow you to discuss and negotiate about something you disagree with?
Parents are very affectionate and emotional. There is a high mutual respect between parents and children. The culture of the family is very strong.
- How much do you respect your parents?
- How much do you respect your parents?
There is a strong respect of the family, the parents take very much care of their children and of their own parents. It is usual that the grandparents live with their children and grandchildren. They all help each other. The dinner is a very important moment where the entire family meets.
- Do you think the family is important? Are your friends too? Which one is the most important and why?
The parents and the family have priority over the friends. But very good friends could become members of the family because the Italians are always very generous and warmhearted with friends and family.
- Are personal ambitions more important than your company goals and results?
Italians are always warmhearted so they will prefer the collaboration.
The company’s interest is important but the colleague is also. They are ambitious of course but it is not a reason to thrash out the colleague along if it is a friend.
- Does your own success have a high importance?
The Italians are very ostentatious. They lie to show off and to show they succeed and that they have money. They are kind of “Bling Bling”. They like appearance.
Not really. Brothers and sisters are not aggressive among each other.
- Do you like working in a group or in a team? Do you easily integrate in teamwork?
Yes, Italians easily work in groups. Moreover they prefer working in groups than alone.
Definitely show off!
- When you have an assignment or a task do you prefer to know everything that you have to do? Or roughly what you have to do?
Italians are rather imaginative, inventive, resourceful, creative and innovative. So they prefer to know roughly what they have to do.
- Are you fatalistic? Or do you prefer to control the future by planning and organizing everything?
No, they are not fatalistic. But they are very loyal churchgoers and superstitious. However they organize their future but they are not very strict.
- Are Italian people intolerant with people who disrespect rules?
Not at all. They are eccentric, relaxed and kind of wide open about the rules for them and for the strangers. They are not strict about laws and rules.
- Do Italians have a big respect for traditions?
Enormous respect for the traditions.
- Do they save money for the future?
They save up the money a lot. They want a big house (because they want to accommodate all the family), a comfortable house with nice furniture. They also want to guarantee a nice wedding for their children and most of the time, they get into huge debt after the wedding of their children.
- Do the Italians show their emotions? Or do they stay stoic?
They manifest very much their emotions and dramatize everything.
They are very effusive and expansive in happiness as well as in sadness such as “Comedia dell’arte”.
- Is the professional life close to the private life?
Italians speak a lot, so the father talks about everything such as his job.
The Italians put it on. So they will probably let the boss win.
They will let him win also because they are emotional and they want to please him. However he thinks that the boss will please him afterwards at work. Italians are above all merchants.
e.g. if your boss offers you to paint his house walls (for free) on a Saturday, will you accept or decline?
They will accept. He thinks that the boss will please him afterwards at work if he pleases him now. But only if the boss is kind.
- Does the professional status depend more on your skills or on who you are?
Yes still. It is the “Mafioso” culture that brought this state of mind. If you are the son of an important person, the CEO will hire you easily because, always on an affectionate way, he will want to please this important person.
- Do Italians rather have a planning behavior?
They plan the things they have to do, but they are not strict at all.
- How are ideas/suggestions/objections received by your boss or the parents?
With the boss it will be a verbal tilt. They are open and not very strict so if the employees have good and relevant arguments, he will consider it.
Interview 2
Interviewee: Andrea Sacchero
Employment: Animator in Club Med
Nationality: Italian
Age: 28
- How is the relationship towards your superior?
The relation between me and my boss is very professional and productive.
- How much do you discuss with your superior?
I discuss often with my boss and I have an excellent relationship.
- How do you handle conflicts with your superior?
When there is a problem, I speak calmly with my boss explaining him the problem and often I don't hesitate to ask him for advice and help.
- Are there big differences in salaries among the hierarchies?
No, in my company's hierarchy there are no big differences of salary. [editorial note: he works in a French company]
- Can you take on your own responsibility / bring in your own opinion in the company?
Certainly, in my company I can take on considerable responsibility several times and often have the possibility to give my opinions.
- How important are your personal goals in the company?
They are very important as they motivate me to do better every day.
- Do you work for yourself or for the well-being of the team?
I work for me and also the well-being of the team as without good mood, no good results can be achieved.
- Are bonuses and promotions important to you / your culture?
Yes, they are important.
- How much does harmony in a group matter to you?
It matters much as without harmony in the group, no satisfying results can be achieved.
- How important is it for you to be successful in your job?
Very important as it would motivate me to do always better.
- Do you expect material reward for your achievement? (e.g. more money for more responsibility etc.)
Let's say that they are important to be motivated to do a good job.
- Is the quality of your work as important as making money?
I think that every job deserves an adequate salary but it is not always the most important thing.
- Do you rather compete with your colleagues or help the weakest link in the company?
I prefer to help those in difficulty in order to make progress as community.
- When you achieve something, do you keep it to yourself or tell people in your environment?
I say it for the well-being of the company.
- How do you solve differences of opinion? (e.g. negotiation, compromise, superior as decision-maker)
I try to reason if the opinion that is different from mine could be better and in the case that I judge it to be worse, I try to explain it.
- Are you comfortable with working independently?
Yes because I prefer to have objectives that I can follow and working in teams.
- Do you need specific information when given a task?
Yes, in order to proceed in the most rapid and determined way.
- Do you expect your superior to have all the answers?
I expect him to help me whenever I have a problem.
- Do you like innovation?
Yes, very, as it helps to progress.
- How do you feel about rules and regulations?
They are important for the functioning of the company.
- How important are traditions to you?
They are very important as they are often based on fundamental bases.
- Do you plan your future? Do you save and invest?
I plan my work in order to be able to save and invest in a correct and profitable way.
- Is it more important for you to achieve quick or good results?
I think it is more important to manage to be organized to have good results maybe slower, but that last with time.
- Do circumstances and specific situations influence your view on rules?
No, not very much.
- To which extent do you express or hide your feelings?
I hide my personal feelings in the working environment somehow to stay neutral and professional as much as possible.
- Do you separate your private and working life?
Always as the private life should not influence my work.
- Is responsibility specifically assigned to a certain persons?
Yes, to the one who is able to manage a certain thing with impartiality.
- What characteristics do you look for in your manager in order to respect him?
That he is clear, correct and respectful towards the work of his employees.
- How are decisions made in your company?
Together with my colleagues and my boss, in agreement. [editorial note: again, he works in a French company]
- Do you like to stick to your schedule of tasks?
Yes because at least it helps to organize myself in advance.
- Do you rather prefer concentrating on one task at a time or several tasks at once?
Only one task in order to accomplish it the best.
- How important is punctuality to you?
It is extremely important in order to perform the job respecting the deadline.
- Do you rather believe that you are controlled by your environment or you can influence your situation?
I prefer that internally there is a fair and correct control over all the staff.
Interview 3
Interviewee: Stéphanie Matysiak
Employment: Student
Nationality: French / German
Age: 22
- How is the relationship between children and parents?
The relationship is a very good and warm relationship. Children love their parents and close family a lot and even though there might be heated discussions, this does not worsen the relationship.
- Do Italian parents allow their children to discuss and negotiate about something they disagree with?
Yes, children will discuss a lot and in a very heated way. However, the final decision still stays with the parents, therefore, they will try to have the last word in the argument.
- How much do Italian children respect their parents?
Children normally respect their parents a lot. There is an enormous loyalty within a family and the family will be protected towards the outside world. Within the family environment however, it can come to heated arguments.
- Do you think the family is important? Are friends too? Which one is the most important and why?
Family is very important. An Italian is very connected to his brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents and will do everything for them. Furthermore, it is very common for Italians to stay close to their parents' house when they move out with their partner to build up their own life. Friends on the other hand are not as important as there can be superficial friendships. However, for a really good friend, an Italian would also do anything.
- Are personal ambitions more important than company goals and results?
Personal ambitions are normally more important as the Italians will try to make their life better. Those personal achievements will then lead to good results in the company. However, an Italian will not put himself to the back for common goals.
Personal ambitions are normally more important as the Italians will try to make their life better. Those personal achievements will then lead to good results in the company. However, an Italian will not put himself to the back for common goals.
- Does the own success have a high importance?
Yes, Italians are very proud of their success so it makes them feel better and lead to more achievements.
Yes, Italians are very proud of their success so it makes them feel better and lead to more achievements.
- Do Italians compete a lot between brothers, sisters and cousins?
Definitely, because most arguments within brothers and sisters will be based on achievements and showing off towards the others.
Definitely, because most arguments within brothers and sisters will be based on achievements and showing off towards the others.
- Do they like working in a group or in a team? Do they easily integrate in teamwork?
I think they like working in a group. Italians are definitely good at working in a team as they are emotional people who can easily relax the atmosphere.
I think they like working in a group. Italians are definitely good at working in a team as they are emotional people who can easily relax the atmosphere.
- Are Italians modest or do they show off?
They definitely like to show off and present their accomplishments a lot bigger than they really were.
They definitely like to show off and present their accomplishments a lot bigger than they really were.
- When you have an assignment or a task do you prefer to know everything that you have to do? Or roughly what you have to do?
Italians like to have guidelines to work on to help them achieve a good work in the way that is required. In this way, they do not do anything wrong in the first place and there is no need to do the task one more time.
Italians like to have guidelines to work on to help them achieve a good work in the way that is required. In this way, they do not do anything wrong in the first place and there is no need to do the task one more time.
- Are you fatalistic? Or do you prefer to control the future by planning and organizing everything?
Italians are not know for planning. However, I do believe that they try to control their environment in such a way that their future is safe. They would like to keep the same standard of life as now and will try to plan enough in advance so as to achieve this.
Italians are not know for planning. However, I do believe that they try to control their environment in such a way that their future is safe. They would like to keep the same standard of life as now and will try to plan enough in advance so as to achieve this.
- Are Italian people intolerant with people who disrespect rules?
Absolutely not as it is no problem not to stick to rules. It is for example normal in Italy to cross at red traffic lights. Even worse, in Naples, there are basically no working traffic lights anymore as no one would stick to them anyways.
Absolutely not as it is no problem not to stick to rules. It is for example normal in Italy to cross at red traffic lights. Even worse, in Naples, there are basically no working traffic lights anymore as no one would stick to them anyways.
- Do Italians have a big respect for traditions?
Yes, traditions are important, as they come from Italy's past and as very nationalistic people, their culture and history as well as traditions are important to them.
Yes, traditions are important, as they come from Italy's past and as very nationalistic people, their culture and history as well as traditions are important to them.
- Do they save money for the future?
To some extent, yes, however, as said before, they do not plan too much in advance so saving will also be limited to assuring a good future.
To some extent, yes, however, as said before, they do not plan too much in advance so saving will also be limited to assuring a good future.
- Do the Italians show their emotions? Or do they stay stoic?
Italians definitely show their emotions and express them loudly. When they are happy, they will let everybody in the surroundings know by laughing very hard and very loud. On the other hand, an angry Italian can become very offensive and aggressive.
Italians definitely show their emotions and express them loudly. When they are happy, they will let everybody in the surroundings know by laughing very hard and very loud. On the other hand, an angry Italian can become very offensive and aggressive.
- Is the professional life close to the private life?
I am not sure about this part but I would say that they are quite related. People like to talk about what they have accomplished, so the father or mother, when coming home to their children, will normally tell them what they have achieved (at work) during the day. On the other hand, I would not say that they mix professional and private life on purpose. There is a line that can be crossed if necessary of if people want this. For example, a friendship between a manager and his employee could be possible and would not be deemed bad because he is the superior.
I am not sure about this part but I would say that they are quite related. People like to talk about what they have accomplished, so the father or mother, when coming home to their children, will normally tell them what they have achieved (at work) during the day. On the other hand, I would not say that they mix professional and private life on purpose. There is a line that can be crossed if necessary of if people want this. For example, a friendship between a manager and his employee could be possible and would not be deemed bad because he is the superior.
- Does the professional status depend more on your skills or on who you are?
Italians pay a lot of attention to appearance. Therefore, it is important to look successful and impress at first sight. Then again, an Italian needs to know his superior is able of doing something, therefore people need to fight for their status and achieve something to get it.
Italians pay a lot of attention to appearance. Therefore, it is important to look successful and impress at first sight. Then again, an Italian needs to know his superior is able of doing something, therefore people need to fight for their status and achieve something to get it.
- Do Italians rather have a planning behavior?
No, not really. If they plan something in advance, they can alter it at any time with unplanned events happening. Therefore, punctuality for example is not as important as in other cultures.
No, not really. If they plan something in advance, they can alter it at any time with unplanned events happening. Therefore, punctuality for example is not as important as in other cultures.
- How are ideas/suggestions/objections received by the boss or the parents?
Every employee can normally give his opinion openly and discuss his point of view. Depending on the company and the manager, he will listen to different opinions and will consider them in his decision-making, if they make sense.
Every employee can normally give his opinion openly and discuss his point of view. Depending on the company and the manager, he will listen to different opinions and will consider them in his decision-making, if they make sense.
Interview 4
Interviewee: Luca Brunelli
Employment: Student
Nationality: Italian
Age: 23
- How is the relationship towards your boss?
- How much do you discuss with your superior?
- How do you handle conflicts with your superior?
- Are there big differences in salaries among the hierarchies?
- Can you take on your own responsibility / bring in your own opinion in the company?
Italian companies are usually of small dimensions, very related to home territory and also of family organization whereby relationships are impersonal even if the hierarchy is always respected. In big companies however, confrontations with a superior are in most of the cases formal. Usually, they tend to discuss little with their superior, but they prefer to resolve the problems among colleagues and autonomously. There is usually a clear separation of roles and hierarchical levels, even if in younger and innovative companies, it is easy to find flatter organizations that facilitate everybody's participation.
- How important are your personal goals in the company?
- Do you work for yourself or for the well-being of the team?
- Are bonuses and promotions important to you / your culture?
- How much does harmony in a group matter to you?
In young companies, there is a tendency to encourage personal growth of employees that are involved. Usually, the tendency is to form strong organizations of informal character within so-called formal organizations. The role of the labor union is also important.
- How important is it for you to be successful in your job?
- Do you expect material reward for your achievement? (e.g. more money for more responsibility etc.)
- Is the quality of your work as important as making money?
- Do you rather compete with your colleagues or help the weakest link in the company?
- When you achieve something, do you keep it to yourself or tell people in your environment?
- How do you solve differences of opinion? (e.g. negotiation, compromise, superior as decision-maker)
Being a successful business person is certainly important although there is no strong competition between the people. Everybody tries to make money but at the same time many other factors such as the stability of the workplace, personal growth, prestige of the company you are working in etc. are valued much. There is a good level of collaboration among the employees that sometimes transforms into attitudes of complicity.
- Are you comfortable with working independently?
- Do you need specific information when given a task?
- Do you expect your superior to have all the answers?
- Do you like innovation?
- How do you feel about rules and regulations?
In certain zones of Italy, micro-entrepreneurship is very strong and the people are more likely to risk and invest. These are usually small-medium-sized companies that are very advanced from a technological point of view because they promote innovation.
- How important are traditions to you?
- Do you plan your future? Do you save and invest?
- Is it more important for you to achieve quick or good results?
We are rather conservative in this sense. Usually people proceed on pre-established schemes. However, the companies that are most successful at the moment are the ones that are able to change in response to every change of the market. Long-term results are much more important and everything is done so that the company can survive in time.
- Do circumstances and specific situations influence your view on rules?
Rules in Italy are made to be broken! Usually there is little trust in the others and little respect of common and public things. The Italian tries to strive to find the shortest street, in this sense able to use creative talents only known to him.
- To which extent do you express or hide your feelings?
Italians are very emotional and do not hide their sensations and feelings.
- Do you separate your private and working life?
- Is responsibility specifically assigned to a certain persons?
In general there is not always a clear separation between social and working life, also because many companies are family organizations and of small dimensions.
- Do you need to achieve something in your company / environment in order to receive a certain status?
- What characteristics do you look for in your manager in order to respect him?
- How are decisions made in your company?
The manager is required to lead the company to achieve excellent results in time. However, there is respect of the hierarchy in any case.
- Do you keep an agenda?
- Do you like to stick to your schedule of tasks?
- Do you rather prefer concentrating on one task at a time or several tasks at once?
- How important is punctuality to you?
Punctuality is not very important! An agenda is kept for appointments but is not always respected. The focus lies on many activities at the same time.
- Do you rather believe that you are controlled by your environment or you can influence your situation?
Persons who are able to alter the truth, that is innovative people, can fatigue when emerging.
