Italian Steps - Working in Italy - Cultural notes

Fact File

• The bulk of Italian industry and wealth exists in the North in what is known as il triangolo industriale, the industrial triangle, between Milan, Turin and Genoa. The triangle is the wealthiest region in the whole country, and one of the most prosperous in Europe as a whole.



• Southern Italy is known as il mezzogiorno, literally 'midday', and despite investment, remains one of the poorest regions in Europe. This is partly due to a legacy of political isolation and corruption, but also to natural obstacles such as poor farmland and bad transport links to the rest of the country. Many Italians have migrated to the North or to other European countries to find work.



• New rules are being introduced to determine business hours. They're usually 8.30am to 12.45pm and 3pm to 6.30pm, with many businesses open on Saturday morning, though this can vary from region to region. Businesses often operate summer timetables, opening from 7am - 1pm, and closing for the rest of the day.



• Business decisions are often made and agreed to privately before meetings, with meetings themselves staged to exhibit eloquence and status. It's normal to exchange business cards after meetings, rather than before.



• Italy's major businesses remain in the manufacturing and engineering industries: from Olivetti computers and typewriters, Zanussi home appliances, to car giants Fiat. The bosses of these companies have attained an iconic status in the country as a whole. Indeed, the death of Fiat boss Giovanni Agnelli in 2003 was marked by national mourning. Flags flew at half-mast, and his body lay in state at the original Fiat Lingotto factory in Turin.



• Family firms play an important role in Italian business, from small companies and traders, to the large conglomerates run by family empires. Well-known names such as Ferrari and Gucci started out as family businesses.



• Italian business is characterised by crippling bureaucracy and strict labour laws, which makes doing business extremely difficult for many companies. Hence the growth of il mercato nero, the black market, which manages to sidestep much of this red tape. It remains a significant factor in Italian business success, generating an estimated 25% of Italy's GDP.