Здравствуйте
everyone! I am doing a research project on Russian business culture and
culture in general. I would be thankful to any Russians if they could
answer some or all of the following questions. Спасибо!
Social Customs
1. How do people greet each other in business settings?
2. How do people react to strangers? Are people hostile, reserved, friendly, etc.
3. What are appropriate manners when you enter a room?
4. How do you express appreciation for being invited into someone's home?
5. What gestures indicate agreement or disagreement?
Religion and Folk Beliefs
1. To which religious groups do people belong?
2. Do religious beliefs influence daily activities?
3. What are some superstitions in your culture?
Value systems
1. Is competitiveness or cooperation more prized?
2. Is thrift or enjoyment of the moment more valued?
3. Is politeness more important than honesty?
Thanks for the help!
1. To which religious groups do people belong? As far as Russia multicultural country you could meet people of any religious group. However, the most spreaded religion in Russia - Ortodox and then Islam.
2. Do religious beliefs influence daily activities? Usually not.
3. What are some superstitions in your culture? It's quite a broad theme, but it hardly impact you seriously in common life.
Value systems
1. Is competitiveness or cooperation more prized? it depends
2. Is thrift or enjoyment of the moment more valued? Thrift obviously not to touch of Russian nature
3. Is politeness more important than honesty? It depends. Based on my observations, traditionally flattery was the best way to the top, but fortunately this situation is getting better.
1. How do people greet each other in business settings?
If it's meeting with a lot of people and you just meet them in the room , more than normal say :Добрый день! ( as Good day for all of us), if one person , you can say : Рад встречи ( as nice to meet you , it's possible to use for people that you see first time or more , because it's as nice to meet you again )
2. How do people react to strangers? Are people hostile, reserved, friendly, etc.
It's depends. If at work situations , i'm sure that a lot of people will be with interest of your person. If in casual life ( as hotels, restaurants etc.) depends of service quality. If talk about street , all of people with a lot of attention and anxiety for strangers.
3. What are appropriate manners when you enter a room? Depends where exactly you enter.Office - you can say to people " Здравствуйте" or " Добрый день" and also depends what you want in this room :)
4.How do you express appreciation for being invited into someone's home?
If you're in situation when someone tell you : come to my home for dinner or etc.If you want to accept you can say : Спасибо большое за приглашения , буду рад ( Thank you for invite, i will be glad ) , if you enter into someone's, it's every time different , you can say : Уютный дом ( Cozy house ) or if you want to erase the moment of inconvenience and be funny , you can say : А тапочки дадите? ( will you give me slippers ?) I promise a lot of smiles after this. Here not more space for write ) Sorry if i wrote with errors , but i hope in general it's possible
First, are you looking at Russian? Moscovite? Or Slavic culture? Do you even know?
1.all: the business environment is not monolithic. For example: comrade (tovareech) is seldom used, yet I have heard it. AND it makes the list of 500 most common words in Russian (definitely a word used by many Russians in daily conversations). So, the impact of Communism is still felt.
Handshakes are similar, you have comfortable handshakes, not the extreme Asian/Mexican 'cold fish' and not the body-builder 'let me see if you go to the gym' hamdshake either.
'They' prefer community, but LOVE competition.
2.1 Most are nominal. On the surface they have little Religion, but they have deep cultural connection with their religious heritage.
The largest Religion is Eastern Atheism/Agnostic; followed by Orthodox; then Protestantism; and then Islam. You also have the cults, 'Islamic' or 'Christian-like'. Such as Jehovah Witness.
And while the majority are atheist, they are critical (educated) thinkers most of the time.
When meeting 'gift-giving' is a social art. ASK a native first, ALWAYS. NEVER, EVER do the 'Yankee tourist' and double triple the gift to out do others.
As for the other cultural questions, 'superstition' or 'faith' is so deep in culture, people still ask to stop and sit before a trip.
