Culture Codes · a living field guide · Innov8 Global Labs

The rules nobody prints on the invitation.

For doing business somewhere you didn't grow up. What to send first, who actually decides, what a long pause means, what to wear. And the small things that end a deal without anyone telling you why.

19
Markets, written first-hand
24
Sections in every one
0
Field notes so far
Who are you about to meet? · 13 codes live
Drag to spin · click a lit country
Darker = deeper code In the field

Every market sits on the same eight scales.

These are the dimensions on which business cultures disagree about what counts as normal behaviour. Three markets are plotted here. Every market has a full position inside, with what to do about it.

Communicating01

Is the message in the words, or in what is left unsaid?

Low-context High-context
Evaluating02

How bluntly is criticism delivered?

Direct negative Indirect negative
Persuading03

Do they want the why before the what?

Principles first Applications first
Leading04

How much distance sits between boss and team?

Egalitarian Hierarchical
Deciding05

Who actually makes the call, and how slowly?

Consensual Top-down
Trusting06

Is trust built at the desk or at dinner?

Task-based Relationship
Disagreeing07

Is open debate productive or rude?

Confrontational Avoids confrontation
Scheduling08

Is the agenda a contract or a suggestion?

Linear-time Flexible-time
USA Germany JapanEight-dimension vocabulary after E. Meyer, The Culture Map · positions are our own field assessments, not her published placements
Who it is for

For anyone landing somewhere new with something to prove. Not advice on where to go, but on how to work once you're there.

01
Founders
Raising, selling or hiring in a market you have never lived in.
02
Investors
Diligence across a border - reading the founder, not just the deck.
03
Corporates
Delegations, JV talks, market entry teams who must not embarrass the logo.
04
Diplomats & missions
Trade attachés and mission staff briefing the people who fly in.

Pack it with you.

Every code opens free: the eight scales, a brief tailored to your role, one do and one don't. A subscription opens the rest of it, on every market, and keeps it current while you travel.

The Passport
₽990 / month
7 days free, then
The whole living atlas, always current. Card up front, nothing charged for seven days, cancel in the trial and pay nothing.
  • Every culture code, unlocked
  • Field notes in real time
  • Add your notes & propose edits
  • Compare any two markets
One-trip pass
₽1 490 / 60 days
One expedition, fully prepared. The atlas for 60 days, no renewal.
  • Everything in Passport for 60 days
  • Up to 5 markets pinned offline
  • Printable one-pager per market
Team
₽4 900 / month · 5 seats
Corporates & missions
Five named seats, one invoice, shared private notes for your delegation.
  • 5 seats, add more at ₽900 / $8 each
  • Private team notes layer
  • Briefing call per trip (Trip Prep)
  • Invoice & PO billing
The Community
Free · with a code
Yellow Door · Intensive · Advisory
Members of The Yellow Door and Innov8 Global carry the atlas as part of the family.
  • Full atlas, no charge
  • Your notes carry your community badge
  • Renews with your membership

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