wtfeWays They Frame Engineering
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GermanyvsBrazil

ドイツとブラジルDEBR

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

Swap: see Germany from Brazil

Culture Map: eight scales

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

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

Where you will notice the difference8 scales

  1. Scheduling

    Brazil treats plans as more flexible than Germany (5 steps)

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

  2. Trusting

    Brazil builds trust through personal relationships more than Germany (4 steps)

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

  3. Evaluating

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

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

  4. Disagreeing

    Brazil avoids open disagreement more than Germany (3 steps)

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

  5. Communicating

    Brazil leaves more to be read between the lines than Germany (2 steps)

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

  6. Deciding

    Brazil leaves decisions to the person in charge more than Germany (2 steps)

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

  7. Persuading

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

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

  8. Leading

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

    Germany 0, Brazil +1, 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 Germany and Brazil. They describe national averages, not either country's character.

  1. Individualism

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

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

  2. Power distance

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

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

  3. Long-term orientation

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

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

  4. Indulgence

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

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

  5. Motivation towards achievement and success

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

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

  6. Uncertainty avoidance

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

    Germany 65, Brazil 76, 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 Germany and Brazil, side by side on wide screens. Each keeps its own confidence label and citations.

Design & quality

Germany2 claims

Brazil2 claims

Failure & risk

Germany5 claims

Brazil1 claim

Feedback & code review

Germany3 claims

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

Hierarchy & decisions

Germany3 claims

Brazil2 claims

Communication & docs

Germany3 claims

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

Work & careers

Germany5 claims

Brazil4 claims

Open source & community

Germany5 claims

Brazil3 claims