Geographically: Western Norway
Norway stretches from the North Sea near Denmark and Scotland into the Arctic Ocean where it borders northern Finland, the northwestern tip of Russia and Sweden's western border.
Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in Western Norway are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland.
Norway is a sparsely populated country, roughly the same land size as Great Britain or Germany. It has a population of only 4.76 million people but a land area of 385,155 square kilometers. Thus, for each inhabitant there is 70,000 square meters of land. The vast majority of this land is a rocky wilderness.
Geographically, Western Norway is the archetypal Norway. Although fjords can be found in other parts of the world, the word is Norwegian, and this is the region of Norway where the most of them can be found. The fjords of Western Norway has been rated as the world's top tourist destination by National Geographic Magazine. In a rating of UNESCO world heritage sites, Geiranger (in Møre og Romsdal) and Nærøyfjord (in Sogn og Fjordane) also obtained top score in a survey conducted by National Geographic. Several of the world's longest waterfalls can be found in Western Norway.
Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in Western Norway are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland.
Norway is a sparsely populated country, roughly the same land size as Great Britain or Germany. It has a population of only 4.76 million people but a land area of 385,155 square kilometers. Thus, for each inhabitant there is 70,000 square meters of land. The vast majority of this land is a rocky wilderness.
Geographically, Western Norway is the archetypal Norway. Although fjords can be found in other parts of the world, the word is Norwegian, and this is the region of Norway where the most of them can be found. The fjords of Western Norway has been rated as the world's top tourist destination by National Geographic Magazine. In a rating of UNESCO world heritage sites, Geiranger (in Møre og Romsdal) and Nærøyfjord (in Sogn og Fjordane) also obtained top score in a survey conducted by National Geographic. Several of the world's longest waterfalls can be found in Western Norway.
Politically and Economically: Norway
Since World War II Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world. Norway is the world's fourth largest oil exporter and the petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of GDP.
Norway also has rich resources of gas fields, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway was the second largest exporter of seafood (in value, after China) in 2006. Other main industries include food processing, shipbuilding, metals, chemicals, mining, fishing and pulp and paper products. Norway has a Scandinavian welfare model and the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.
Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2009. Politically, it is dominated by a widespread, stable and continued support for the Scandinavian model. Being a member state of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen agreement, Norway is closely connected to the EU, and integrated as a full member in most economic matters, as well as in customs and immigration matters.
Norway also has rich resources of gas fields, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway was the second largest exporter of seafood (in value, after China) in 2006. Other main industries include food processing, shipbuilding, metals, chemicals, mining, fishing and pulp and paper products. Norway has a Scandinavian welfare model and the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.
Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2009. Politically, it is dominated by a widespread, stable and continued support for the Scandinavian model. Being a member state of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen agreement, Norway is closely connected to the EU, and integrated as a full member in most economic matters, as well as in customs and immigration matters.
People, Culture and Etiquette: Norway
Negotiating with Norwegians
Always be punctual, explain any delay, and make sure that you keep your schedule promises. Norwegians are normally not tactical negotiators. If they say something is too expensive it's not because of tactics, but probably because they mean it. Hard selling techniques will do you no good in Norway. Try to avoid bragging and exaggerations, and do not over promise.
To your Norwegian partner trust, planning, continuity and transparency is important. Turning around and adding surprising new elements is generally not popular.
Norwegian body language and tone of voice is subtler than in Southern Europe and the Americas. Do not misread this as lack of interest.
Present a realistic and competitive first offer and expect some negotiation of the terms. Be prepared to yield something for psychological reasons, but do not cut down your initial offer to such an extent that it comes out as a bargaining technique. Bargaining techniques and tactics could be misinterpreted by Norwegians as dishonesty.
Always be punctual, explain any delay, and make sure that you keep your schedule promises. Norwegians are normally not tactical negotiators. If they say something is too expensive it's not because of tactics, but probably because they mean it. Hard selling techniques will do you no good in Norway. Try to avoid bragging and exaggerations, and do not over promise.
To your Norwegian partner trust, planning, continuity and transparency is important. Turning around and adding surprising new elements is generally not popular.
Norwegian body language and tone of voice is subtler than in Southern Europe and the Americas. Do not misread this as lack of interest.
Present a realistic and competitive first offer and expect some negotiation of the terms. Be prepared to yield something for psychological reasons, but do not cut down your initial offer to such an extent that it comes out as a bargaining technique. Bargaining techniques and tactics could be misinterpreted by Norwegians as dishonesty.
People and Culture
Norway is a cosmopolitan and international country, with a European mind set. Norwegians are sincere and polite, though small talk sometimes doesn't come easy. Norwegians are direct and do not focus on rituals and social environments for the negotiations. In the initial meeting Norwegians are ready to talk business after only a few minutes of small talk. During business meetings Norwegians are straightforward and direct.
Norwegians can be direct and rarely say please, which can come across as rude, but it's due to the fact that the Norwegian language rarely use the word. Politeness and respect in Norway is more a matter of behavior, than a matter of phrases (linguistic codes). Norwegians also tend to address people by their first name even in many formal occasions. There is no polite form of talking to members of different "hierarchical" social structures, and even if there are some definite differences in the Norwegian society this is not expressed directly through linguistic intentionality. Norwegians are generally very informal and most bars and restaurants do not have any dress code. Some bars and nightclubs will however not accept guests in jogging shoes or blue jeans. Norwegians are very tolerant towards foreigners whose traditions differ from the Norwegian.
Norway is a cosmopolitan and international country, with a European mind set. Norwegians are sincere and polite, though small talk sometimes doesn't come easy. Norwegians are direct and do not focus on rituals and social environments for the negotiations. In the initial meeting Norwegians are ready to talk business after only a few minutes of small talk. During business meetings Norwegians are straightforward and direct.
Norwegians can be direct and rarely say please, which can come across as rude, but it's due to the fact that the Norwegian language rarely use the word. Politeness and respect in Norway is more a matter of behavior, than a matter of phrases (linguistic codes). Norwegians also tend to address people by their first name even in many formal occasions. There is no polite form of talking to members of different "hierarchical" social structures, and even if there are some definite differences in the Norwegian society this is not expressed directly through linguistic intentionality. Norwegians are generally very informal and most bars and restaurants do not have any dress code. Some bars and nightclubs will however not accept guests in jogging shoes or blue jeans. Norwegians are very tolerant towards foreigners whose traditions differ from the Norwegian.