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2:46 Back PART 2 International Management Mana... www.downloadslide.net THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT "But What about thc sytrrgy we can create if have people from different levels discussing an together? Especially if thc idea Will affect thc work staff are to do. I think thcrcs too much of pcc"lc by level in our ckpartmcnt. rd like to eliminate some Of tlr to collaboration that hierarchy creates." Les said. "What arc your thoughts on how to do that'.v "I'll need to take some time to think about that." Bill said. "Maybe wc can talk about it in our next one on-one Later that day. during lunch With one Of his in thc company cafeteria. Bill brought up his discussion With Les. "He wants to eliminate some Of thc barriers that the hierarchy puts in thc way Of collaboration." Bill began. "What exactly do you think he means by collaboration? Wc all get along just finc as far as I can see. Wc CIXIIXratC When wc need to. And I really don't know how to get staff to speak their minds if they don't want to. I don't feel comfortable forcing anybody to be part Of a discussion in a nwcting if they prefer to just listen." At thc next all-staff meeting. Les began by handing out a sheet With five topics on it. "Rather than following one Of our regular agendas tcnlay. I thought wc might do a little brainstorming on thc topics I've outlined hcrc. As you can see. these topics all relate to marketing. and What wc come up With in our discussion can go a long Way toward finalizing that plan. "And here's a twist on our usual meeting protcK01: instead of my leading the discussion. rm going to assign one Of these topics to five people and Ict you take over thc discussion." In thinking about the meeting afterward. Lcs decided that although it hadn't a com- Pletc success. hc thought hc had made some progress in getting increased participation. When one Of the senior managers requested a meeting a couple Of days later. Les was surprised at thc managers comments about thc meeting. "l m sure you were sinccrc in your request for ideas from everybody but I need to tell you that you made a lot Of people very uncomfortable. Staff are not used to leading a discussion With senior managers present. When that staff member is leading a brainstorming session and has to tell a manager that hcs out Of order because hes criticizing someone's idea. you're putting the staff member in a really awkward position." "l guess I don't understand." Les said. "Thc whole 'X'int Of doing What I did was to break down thc barriers that make pcoplc fecl uncomfortable. I think cvcryt%xiy has gcd ideas. and Irn trying to figure out how I Can get them to share those ideas. I thought putting in dif- ferent roles would bc helpful." At his next meeting With Tom Sanchez. Les expressed his frustration With achieving as much as he for when he started. "It just as though I'm being stonewalled at every turn. In fact. I've heard that several people are thinking of transferring to another department." Les said. "What am I mi"ing? I've done things just like I do at GOCSydncy. thc results are not thc same. "Maybe I Can make some progress When I get back after vacation. Sometimes three weeks away give a different perspective on things." "Yes. Les." Tom began. "wc' II need to talk about this When you get back from vacation. Three weeks is a pretty long time for a senior manager to be gone. but I know you and your family have plans to visit a lot Of thc national parks in thc nest. so I reluctantly approved your request. Have a good trip and talk With you When you get back." When Lcs returned from vacation. Tom Sanchez Was out of thc office for a week and they didn't have a chance to meet before Lcs got Word that his mother had passed away suddenly and that hc needed to return to Sydney for thc funeral. As he headed for Sydney. Lcs won- dered how hc could explain to his former boss in Sydney the problems he Was having at GOC Discussion Questions 3-11. Using Geert Hofstedes cultural characteristics. compare Australia and the United States on vari- ous mexsures. As you'll see. the two countries are fairly similar. but tikre are some differences that may help explain Les Collins s apparent lack ot success in the American setting. Which of these do think is the most significant and why? www.downloadslide.net CHAPTERS UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF CULTURE 14S 312. What GOC have done to prepare Collins for his in the United States ? Outline an action plan for to use in executivesand their familiesfor assign _ 313. Articulate and evaluate own the degree Of distance prevalent in US _ companies managers and their direct repts_ Who is protected by this tnanagement Style ? What ad Verse organizational might result from this Style?