Tips on Doing Business in Norway

Norway has been ranked as the best place to live in the world by the United Nations—for four consecutive years! The criteria include average income (U.S.$36,600 in 2004), life expectancy (seventy-nine years), and education levels (enrollment levels of 98 percent). Norway’s vast oil and gas reserves help generate a high level of wealth, and their relatively small population uses that wealth to develop and sustain an economically and politically equal society with a high quality of life.

• Norwegians tend to be more informal than other Scandinavians (especially the Swedes, whom they generally consider stuffy.)
• Many observers consider the Norwegians to be the least punctual people in northern Europe. A fifteen-minute delay is not uncommon. However, as a foreigner, you are expected to be prompt.
• Norwegian businesspeople are sometimes uncomfortable communicating in writing, especially in a foreign language. Many prefer to do business by telephone rather than by letter. When writing is necessary, it will often be as short as possible: a brief e-mail message or fax suffices.

Punctuality, Appointments, and Local Time

• Norwegians are not quite as insistent on punctuality as many Scandinavians. However, as a foreigner, you should always be punctual, both for business and social events.
• Norwegians generally get to work exactly at the start of the business day. They also like to leave exactly at the end of the day. They have even been known to hang up in the middle of a phone call at the end of the workday!
• Norwegians, like most Europeans, write the day first, then the month, then the year (e.g., December 3, 2010, is written 3.12.10 or 3/12/10).
• The work week is generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Businesspeople leave their offices promptly and go home for dinner, which is typically held at about 5:00 p.m.
• It is best to avoid business trips to Norway around Easter and in July and early August—when most people take vacations.
• Norway’s Constitution Day is May 17.
• Norway is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T. +1), or six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T. +6).

Negotiating

• Norwegians are relatively informal (far more so than the neighboring Swedes).
• It is wise to set a time limit on the meeting. However, Norwegians will abide by the schedule, so be ready to end the meeting at the designated time, whether or not there are matters left to discuss.
• Norwegians may adopt a “take it or leave it” attitude and will not appear dismayed if you reject their proposal and the deal falls through.
• Norwegians are wary of the American concern with legal matters. Written confirmation of business deals is sufficient; if you must mention bringing in a lawyer, be discreet.

Business Entertaining

• If you have a late morning meeting, invite your Norwegian colleague to lunch.
• In most Norwegian restaurants, alcohol is served only after 3:00 p.m. and only from Monday through Saturday.
• You may discuss business at any time during the meal.
• Good topics of conversation include family, Norwegian history, sports, and nature. Many affluent Norwegians have a second home in the country, where they can hike and ski.
• Norwegians will appreciate your knowledge about the differences among the Scandinavian countries.
• Avoid personal topics (employment of your host or family members, health issues, etc).
• Avoid criticism of other peoples or political systems. The Norwegians stress tolerance. Chastising Norwegians for permitting the hunting of whales will not win you any friends.
• Don’t complain about the cost of living in Norway. Norwegians know how expensive their country is.
• Norwegians usually eat dinner early, starting at 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.
• When you go to a Norwegian home, wait to be asked in; wait again until you are asked to sit down. At the table, wait until the host invites everyone to begin eating.
• Some Norwegians have a cocktail before dinner; others do not. It is possible that you will be directed to the dinner table as soon as you arrive. Arrive on time.
• The fork is held in the left hand; the knife remains in the right hand.
• Hands should not be kept in the lap at the table.
• A dinner in a Norwegian home may have numerous courses and last several hours. Pace yourself.
• At the end of the meal, people thank the hostess by saying takk for maten, or “thank you for the food”; you will please your hosts by saying this in Norwegian.
• You should initiate your own departure, as your hosts will not. Expect the evening to end around 10:00 p.m. in the winter. However, in the summer, the sun does not set until around midnight. Your hosts may suggest a walk after dinner, followed by a final drink. In the summer, expect to leave around 11 p.m.

Taken from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands - The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries (2006) by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway.

The article above is only a sample. If you enjoy this kind of stuff, HERE is an extract from the book [pdf format] containing the complete entry about Norwegians.

Any comments on this analysis and advice?