BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : OCTOBER 23, 2000 ISSUE
BUSINESS WEEK E.BIZ -- STRATEGIES Harnessing Silicon Valley Culture (int'l edition) How European companies are learning from their transatlantic operations: Pick a language and rewards everyone can understand: France's Alcatel (ALA) adopted--quelle horreur--English as its official tongue, easing communication around the globe. Money talks, too: Alcatel gives out stock options, although some grumble that they're richer for employees in America. Focus advertising on investors and potential employees, as well as customers: Germany's SAP (SAP), long battered by Oracle in the ad wars, is ramping up a TV campaign to boost its image. The idea: A brand name not only fuels sales, but pumps the stock and helps recruiting. Ditch your Old World culture in favor of Valley pizzazz: Britain's 3i, a venture capital firm, is building up its Silicon Valley operations. The group wants to make money on U.S. investments, and land top entrepreneurs from Sweden to Italy by offering Valley contacts and knowhow. Give European employees a dose of the Valley: Alcatel's Go-America program encourages workers to spend a year or two in the U.S. This helps mesh cultures--driving speed for the Europeans and giving Americans a taste of Europe's quality control. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS EBIZ Contents for issue dated Oct. 23, 2000 Silicon D-Day (int'l edition) TABLE: A New Plan for the Old World (int'l edition) TABLE: Harnessing Silicon Valley Culture (int'l edition) ONLINE EXTRA: Profiles of Cirlab... ONLINE EXTRA: ...and some of its spin-offs Old-World Upstart (int'l edition) ONLINE EXTRA: Q&A with Icon Medialab CFO Rems Buchwaldt INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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