@naturepunk @KatyElphinstone German business culture also encourages addressing problems directly and frankly, even in front of your superiors, in a way that would be considered deeply offensive or insubordinate in other cultures.The general attitude is that if you are the expert on something, and you see a problem, then it's your responsibility to notify your superiors that there is a problem. Then it is _their_ responsibility to choose whether or not to act on it. They might still overrule you - and might in fact have good reasons for doing so - but they need to have all the information to make a good decision.