The United Kingdom is made up of the four entities of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the English make up over 80% of the total population, and have a culture distinctly their own. The English are a complex people, shaped by a unique colonial history and not given to easy definition. They prefer understatement, ironic humour and verbal cleverness to hide as much as they reveal about themselves. To understand the ambiguities and nuances of English culture, it is not enough to be a fluent speaker of English. This Cultural Detective is designed to help you navigate your way through the many subtleties of the culture and prepare you for rewarding and productive interactions with the English.

Cultural Detective England contains the following stories and critical incidents:

• Seeking Help for a Problem:

  A female English manager is charged with transferring a French quality control process into the English factory.

• Who's to Blame?:

  A German company is fined for modifying its London office.

• Question of Image, A:

  A Japanese bank hires an experienced yet eccentric Englishman for its Birmingham branch.

• Transatlantic Divide, The:

  A UK marketing team of a pharmaceutical company is meeting in England with their US American counterparts.

• Alberto Mentions Maradona:

  The president of the Argentine subsidiary requests new investment from the CEO and executive team in the London head office.

• Fixing a Problem:

  Korean engineers install a manufacturing line in an English factory.

• How to Deal with Gerard:

  A Swedish human resources manager tackles a discrimination complaint in the English subsidiary office.

Cultural Detective England was authored by Robert Brown, Banu Golesorkhi and Dianne Hofner Saphiere.