Corporate Culture
In Great Britain, punctuality is important for business meetings. Be on time.
Brits prefer a congenial business relationship, but tend to get right down to business after a few moments of polite conversation.
Business is best initiated through a well-connected third party.
The Board of Directors is the source of power and the principal decision making unit in a company. Formal approval of the board is required for most decisions. Decisions may be slow in the making.
Expect formalities and protocol to be observed in business, especially in London.
Business organization traditionally is multi-layered with a vertical chain of command. A network of committees, formal and informal, exists in larger companies. Group consensus is preferred to individual initiative.
In older companies, business still centers around the "old boy network" with prep schools, universities and family ties being of great importance. Newer companies are more progressive.
Meetings should be scheduled well in advance.
Meetings generally have a concrete objective, such as: making a decision, developing a plan or arriving at an agreement.
Presentations should be detailed and subdued.
Scots are known for being skilled businesspersons, priding themselves for being internationalists. They also are suspicious of "go-getters" and respect success only when it is achieved over time.