Culture is Fascinating! Did you know that because of educational philosophy and approach, cultures are taught to solve problems differently? According to German psychologist Sylvia Schroll-Machi, there are several reasons why German / U.S. projects have the potential for failure. One of these reasons is because the Germans are taught to see problem solving from an engineering point of view. They take time to consider all aspects of an issue, spending a good deal of time studying the problem and its history and less on the ultimate solution. U.S. Americans see problem solving as a more open-ended task hoping to speed up the process of getting to work. They brainstorm on how to achieve the desired goal, learn by doing, and feel that things can be modified along the way. These differences can account for misunderstandings during the implementation phase of a project. How can both of these styles be useful in the workplace? Global LT's Cultural Training Programs - Communication Style: U.S./Germany