Ukraine was first settled more than two million years ago and is a country rich in cultural, economic and political history. Ukrainians have experienced a turbulent past in which they have endured political repression, nuclear disaster, famine and recession. Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukrainians have worked hard to establish their country as a market economy.
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Ukraine Today
Situated between the rest of Europe to the west and Asia and Russia to the east, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe and holds an advantageous position geographically. It is populated largely by Ukrainians although a fifth of its population is Russian and as such, both languages play a prominent part in everyday life. Doing business in Ukraine effectively requires an understanding of the unique cultural traditions and values that influence Ukrainian social and business culture.
Ukrainian Culture - Key Concepts and Values
Family – Family plays an important role in Ukrainian life. It is not uncommon for grandparents to live with the family and to play an active role in bringing up grandchildren. As such, there tends to be strong intergenerational bonds in Ukrainian family life. From an external perspective, Ukrainian parents can sometimes be perceived as overly protective but this is a natural part of their parental attitude and may stem from a traditional cultural value highlighting the desire for children to fit in with the crowd and avoid bringing too much attention to themselves.
Indirect and Direct Communication – Ukrainians tend to use a mixture of direct and indirect communication depending on their relationship with one another. The greater the familiarity, the higher the level of direct communication. When meeting your Ukrainian counterparts for the first time, it is likely that they will use more indirect and polite communication but once a relationship has been established, it is common for Ukrainians to adopt a more direct approach. Some may perceive this as rudeness but it is important to remember that this is not intentional but simply a difference in preferred communication style.
Time – Ukrainians generally have a flexible attitude towards time. When working with your Ukrainian counterparts, you should bear in mind that people may arrive 5 to 10 minutes late for a business meeting, although this may vary for individuals of different hierarchical status. For social situations this may extend to 15 minutes. Also, schedules and appointments can change quite regularly so be prepared for last minute changes.
Doing Business in Ukraine
Ukraine is a nation that welcomes foreign business and investment and has the potential to become a major European player. Its strong agricultural base, abundance of natural resources and capacity for industrial production combined with its large educated and highly-skilled workforce make it an increasingly attractive location for business. Anyone doing business in Ukraine must however be aware of the challenges they may face as a result of government interference, corruption, lack of law enforcement and cultural differences. Ukraine can bring many benefits to those who understand how to navigate this complex and ever-changing culture.
Part 1 – Working in Ukraine: Working practices in Ukraine
Structure and hierarchy in the Ukrainian companies
Working relationships in Ukraine
Part 2 – Doing Business in Ukraine: Business practices in Ukraine
Ukrainian Business Etiquette (Do’s and Don’ts)
DO make direct eye contact when speaking to your Ukrainian counterparts.
DO take the time to develop trust and build relationships with your Ukrainian counterparts before a negotiation process.
DO check company policy before giving gifts to your Ukrainian counterparts.
DON’T initiate a conversation about politics with your counterparts and consider what you say carefully when someone else initiates a conversation around this or other sensitive topics.
DON’T point using your finger. Using your hand is much more acceptable.
DON’T be surprised if your Ukrainian counterparts stand quite close to you in conversation as this is most likely a result of their desire to conduct conversations in a quiet manner.
Ukrainian Culture Quiz – True or False
1. Shaking hands across a threshold is considered unlucky in Ukraine.
2. Ukrainian people are very private and not very welcoming towards foreigners.
3. There are many superstitions in Ukrainian culture.
4. It is common for several generations of a Ukrainian family to live together in the same house.
Ukrainian Culture Quiz – Answers
1. True.
2. False. The Ukrainian culture is a very hospitable and generous one and Ukrainians take a lot of pride in making the most of any social occasion.
3. True.
4. True.
Ukraine Today
Situated between the rest of Europe to the west and Asia and Russia to the east, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe and holds an advantageous position geographically. It is populated largely by Ukrainians although a fifth of its population is Russian and as such, both languages play a prominent part in everyday life. Doing business in Ukraine effectively requires an understanding of the unique cultural traditions and values that influence Ukrainian social and business culture.
Ukrainian Culture - Key Concepts and Values
Family – Family plays an important role in Ukrainian life. It is not uncommon for grandparents to live with the family and to play an active role in bringing up grandchildren. As such, there tends to be strong intergenerational bonds in Ukrainian family life. From an external perspective, Ukrainian parents can sometimes be perceived as overly protective but this is a natural part of their parental attitude and may stem from a traditional cultural value highlighting the desire for children to fit in with the crowd and avoid bringing too much attention to themselves.
Indirect and Direct Communication – Ukrainians tend to use a mixture of direct and indirect communication depending on their relationship with one another. The greater the familiarity, the higher the level of direct communication. When meeting your Ukrainian counterparts for the first time, it is likely that they will use more indirect and polite communication but once a relationship has been established, it is common for Ukrainians to adopt a more direct approach. Some may perceive this as rudeness but it is important to remember that this is not intentional but simply a difference in preferred communication style.
Time – Ukrainians generally have a flexible attitude towards time. When working with your Ukrainian counterparts, you should bear in mind that people may arrive 5 to 10 minutes late for a business meeting, although this may vary for individuals of different hierarchical status. For social situations this may extend to 15 minutes. Also, schedules and appointments can change quite regularly so be prepared for last minute changes.
Doing Business in Ukraine
Ukraine is a nation that welcomes foreign business and investment and has the potential to become a major European player. Its strong agricultural base, abundance of natural resources and capacity for industrial production combined with its large educated and highly-skilled workforce make it an increasingly attractive location for business. Anyone doing business in Ukraine must however be aware of the challenges they may face as a result of government interference, corruption, lack of law enforcement and cultural differences. Ukraine can bring many benefits to those who understand how to navigate this complex and ever-changing culture.
Part 1 – Working in Ukraine: Working practices in Ukraine
Structure and hierarchy in the Ukrainian companies
Working relationships in Ukraine
Part 2 – Doing Business in Ukraine: Business practices in Ukraine
Ukrainian Business Etiquette (Do’s and Don’ts)
DO make direct eye contact when speaking to your Ukrainian counterparts.
DO take the time to develop trust and build relationships with your Ukrainian counterparts before a negotiation process.
DO check company policy before giving gifts to your Ukrainian counterparts.
DON’T initiate a conversation about politics with your counterparts and consider what you say carefully when someone else initiates a conversation around this or other sensitive topics.
DON’T point using your finger. Using your hand is much more acceptable.
DON’T be surprised if your Ukrainian counterparts stand quite close to you in conversation as this is most likely a result of their desire to conduct conversations in a quiet manner.
Ukrainian Culture Quiz – True or False
1. Shaking hands across a threshold is considered unlucky in Ukraine.
2. Ukrainian people are very private and not very welcoming towards foreigners.
3. There are many superstitions in Ukrainian culture.
4. It is common for several generations of a Ukrainian family to live together in the same house.
Ukrainian Culture Quiz – Answers
1. True.
2. False. The Ukrainian culture is a very hospitable and generous one and Ukrainians take a lot of pride in making the most of any social occasion.
3. True.
4. True.