MM Guide hosts several international colleagues, and this blog series wants to explore and highlight the differences and unique points of view that our foreign colleagues may have about the Dutch working life.
Today we are going to read about the experience of Agatha Garcia Harjanto, our Market Researcher.
– Hello Agatha, it’s nice to Have you here! please, tell us a bit about yourself:
“Hello everyone! My name is Agatha and I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. Studying and living abroad was my teenager’s dream, therefore it was an easy choice for me to study International Business at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. Alongside my studies and my market research job with MM Guide, I have participated in several student works and internships in several Dutch organizations. These experiences gave me the chance to learn more about other working cultures.”
What do you think are the main differences between Indonesian and Dutch working environments?
“The business culture in Indonesia has a robust hierarchical system; people in higher positions are addressed as ‘Mr or Ms’ followed by their name. This custom wants to show respect for senior members of an organization. This system leads to many “unwritten rules”: for instance, when it comes to entering a meeting room, the person with the highest position must enter the room before everyone else.
As you can imagine, Indonesian business culture is not what we would define as flexible. The decision-making process is usually very long, and every choice goes through a thorough analysis. It is unpolite for a business partner to ask for a quick decision.
Work-life in Indonesia has also a very tight connection with friendship: before choosing a work partner, most Indonesians form a friendships relation. Indonesians assume that a good friendship also means a compatible business partner.
Furthermore, Indonesians living in big cities like Jakarta, are not unfamiliar with delays caused by traffic congestion. Due to this, Indonesians often arrive late when they have an appointment. This is not as unpolite as it is in the Netherlands, since most Indonesians feel that they have a more flexible perception of time.”
-These are indeed some huge differences. I can imagine that adapting might have been quite challenging. How did you do it?
“Living in a different culture is an exciting adventure yet it is indeed a challenging process. During the first few months, I went through a period of cultural adjustment. The most important thing is to stay open-minded and use an adaptive approach, striving to understand the new culture while seeking positivity in it.
I can tell you one thing for sure: this process takes a lot of time. The best tip I can give you is to be patient and not overthink too much. It is okay to have anxieties along the way, however, don’t let them stop you from asking Dutch people regarding the work ethics and their culture. Luckily for me, my fellow Indonesian friends who moved to the Netherlands before me, helped me to understand the Dutch working culture in no time. It is great to seek help from someone who is in the same metaphorical boat.”
Is there any change you would like to make to the Dutch working culture?
“I think the Indonesian value of courtesy should be introduced in the Dutch working culture: being too straightforward might not be always the best option. It may in fact decrease someone’s confidence and make him or her feel ashamed. I think using the right words at the right moment is important: it is extremely beneficial to build sentences that will trigger a positive response while still providing the intended meaning.”
