10_ScanMag_76_May_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 06/05/2015 18:21 Page 103
Scan Magazine | Business | Business Calendar
Scandinavian Business Calendar
By Caroline Edwards
– Highlights of Scandinavian business events Plunging oil prices – is it all bad news?
the Danish and UK markets. Don’t miss out on the
Join the Norwegian-British Chamber of Com-
chance to get first class advice from the Cham-
merce for yet another enlightening event. DNB,
ber’s advisors.
Each spring the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Norway’s largest financial services group, takes a
Time and date: 21 May, 9.30 am – 2 pm
tempts you with the Young Professional’s Spring
look at the future of the oil industry by digging into
Venue: SEB Offices:
Party, taking place at the Roof Gardens in Kens-
the current oil prices and analysing the state of the
1 Carter Ln, London EC4V 5AN
ington. Let work and play go hand in hand at the
market. Sit back and listen to experts in the field
Work and play: Network with young professionals
best party of the season. Enjoy delicious BBQ, fabulous cocktails and meet fellow young profes-
working reception where you can mingle with the
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce presents: Entrepreneurship Forum 2015
other attendees.
Sweden and Britain share a proud history of en-
early to avoid disappointment.
Time and date: 27 May, 6 pm – 8.30 pm
trepreneurial spirit that has resulted in flourishing
Time and date: 16 May, 7 pm.
Venue: Copthorne Hotel, Aberdeen. Venue
business industries. However, all start-ups face
Venue: The Roof Gardens,
details will be published
the same issue in the early stages: funding. Come
99 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
closer to event.
along to this year’s Entrepreneurship Forum at
as they present to the audience, followed by a net-
sionals in their best party mood. Get your ticket
the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and learn
Extending your business to Denmark or the UK? Get advice
business idea. Get inspiration from the people who
The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce, the
made it.
Chamber’s Advisory Board and partners are proud
Time and date: 7 May, 6 pm – 9.30 pm
to announce the Helping New Entrants initiative,
Venue: Grange St. Pauls Hotel,
hosted by SEB UK. This is the chance for new
10 Godliman Street,
business owners to receive advice on extending to
London EC4V 5AJ
more about how to acquire funding for your bright
Are there to be rules...? By Steve Flinders
When do you break the rules? How do you feel when someone else breaks the rules? As I follow the complicated manoeuvres involving Greece, Germany and the rest of Europe, I’ve been wondering whether a lot of the friction within the European Union (EU) isn’t simply due to a basic cultural difference concerning rules. Fons Trompenaars, the Dutch interculturalist, tells us that in universalist cultures, rules are seen as binding; while in particularist cultures, rules can be broken if they don’t really suit your own special needs. The problem in the EU, in business and in life, is when universalists and particularists have to work together. In the United Kingdom, where I come from, a long tradition of deference has only recently started to fracture; in France, the spirit is less respectful. Once, at the start of a Paris marathon when the organisers decided that 20,000 runners were standing in the wrong place, I naturally turned round immediately to move back when asked to do so, only to be
faced with 19,999 other runners whistling and shouting abuse. In the UK, everyone would have done what they were told. In France, we started the race from where we were. The modern world does seem to require us to resist the idea that we are the exception, and yet over-rigid rules, and too many of them, may risk provoking an even stronger reaction
against them. As in every clash of cultures, rule respecters and rule breakers must try to understand each other. Scandinavians should understand that people in some EU countries are deeply suspicious of the state and its intentions. We need to surface these differences and then sign up to a consensus which we can all buy into. Which, I guess, works okay until someone decides that in their particular case...
Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, now based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com www.coachingyork.co.uk/item/ steve-flinders
Issue 76 | May 2015 | 103