wtfeWays They Frame Engineering
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BrazilvsGermany

ブラジルとドイツBRDE

Seen from Brazil: each line below describes Germany relative to Brazil.

Swap: see Brazil from Germany

Culture Map: eight scales

Erin Meyer's eight scales, sorted by how far apart Brazil and Germany sit, largest gap first.

Filled dot: Brazil, where you are looking fromHollow ring: Germany

Where you will notice the difference8 scales

  1. Scheduling

    Germany sticks to fixed plans and deadlines more than Brazil (5 steps)

    Brazil +2, Germany −3, on a line from −3 (Linear time) to +3 (Flexible time).

  2. Trusting

    Germany builds trust through reliable work more than Brazil (4 steps)

    Brazil +2, Germany −2, on a line from −3 (Task-based) to +3 (Relationship-based).

  3. Evaluating

    Germany gives negative feedback more directly than Brazil (3 steps)

    Brazil +1, Germany −2, on a line from −3 (Direct negative feedback) to +3 (Indirect negative feedback).

  4. Disagreeing

    Germany is more willing to disagree openly than Brazil (3 steps)

    Brazil +1, Germany −2, on a line from −3 (Confrontational) to +3 (Avoids confrontation).

  5. Communicating

    Germany spells things out more explicitly than Brazil (2 steps)

    Brazil 0, Germany −2, on a line from −3 (Low-context) to +3 (High-context).

  6. Deciding

    Germany decides by group agreement more than Brazil (2 steps)

    Brazil +1, Germany −1, on a line from −3 (Consensual) to +3 (Top-down).

  7. Persuading

    Germany wants the theory before the conclusion more than Brazil (1 step)

    Brazil 0, Germany −1, on a line from −3 (Principles-first) to +3 (Applications-first).

  8. Leading

    Germany keeps less distance between boss and team than Brazil (1 step)

    Brazil +1, Germany 0, on a line from −3 (Egalitarian) to +3 (Hierarchical).

Positions are read by eye from Erin Meyer's published charts and rounded to seven steps. A step means “further towards that pole”, not a measured distance. How the positions were read

Hofstede: six dimensions

Scores from 0 to 100, sorted by the gap between Brazil and Germany. They describe national averages, not either country's character.

  1. Individualism

    Germany scores 43 points higher than Brazil (79 against 36)

    Brazil 36, Germany 79, on a line from 0 (Collectivist) to 100 (Individualist).

  2. Power distance

    Germany scores 34 points lower than Brazil (35 against 69)

    Brazil 69, Germany 35, on a line from 0 (Low power distance) to 100 (High power distance).

  3. Long-term orientation

    Germany scores 29 points higher than Brazil (57 against 28)

    Brazil 28, Germany 57, on a line from 0 (Short-term) to 100 (Long-term).

  4. Indulgence

    Germany scores 19 points lower than Brazil (40 against 59)

    Brazil 59, Germany 40, on a line from 0 (Restrained) to 100 (Indulgent).

  5. Motivation towards achievement and success

    Germany scores 17 points higher than Brazil (66 against 49)

    Brazil 49, Germany 66, on a line from 0 (Consensus-oriented) to 100 (Decisive).

  6. Uncertainty avoidance

    Germany scores 11 points lower than Brazil (65 against 76)

    Brazil 76, Germany 65, on a line from 0 (Tolerant of ambiguity) to 100 (Avoids ambiguity).

Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).Source: The Culture Factor — Country comparison tool (2026).About the Hofstede dimensions

What the sources say, theme by theme

Entries for Brazil and Germany, side by side on wide screens. Each keeps its own confidence label and citations.

Design & quality

Brazil2 claims

Germany2 claims

Failure & risk

Brazil1 claim

Germany5 claims

Feedback & code review

Brazil3 claims

  • The training company Talaera, citing Meyer, writes that negative feedback tends to be wrapped in warmth and delivered in private, and that public criticism easily damages relationships. The behavioral descriptions rest mainly on the authors' own observations.

    Thin1 source2026br-feedback-1

  • In an HR magazine interview, Erin Meyer names Latin America as one of the "really indirect" parts of the world for negative feedback.

    Attested1 source2014Datedbr-feedback-2

  • Talaera says that instead of a plain "no," phrases such as "we can try" or "I'll do my best" can signal concern or refusal.

    Thin1 source2026br-feedback-3

Germany3 claims

Hierarchy & decisions

Brazil2 claims

Germany3 claims

Communication & docs

Brazil2 claims

  • A summary of Meyer's Culture Map places Brazil on the side where trust is built through personal relationships, close to China and Saudi Arabia. Small talk at the start of a meeting is described as part of the work.

    Thin1 sourcebr-communication-1

  • Talaera says written English tends to be on the formal side and asynchronous replies tend to be long and warm, and it recommends video calls over audio-only calls.

    Thin1 source2026br-communication-2

Germany3 claims

Work & careers

Brazil4 claims

Germany5 claims

Open source & community

Brazil3 claims

Germany5 claims