Scenario

You work at TalkBox, a company that develops and supports solutions for workforce collaboration. Following recent and rapid growth, TalkBox is expanding into a variety of global markets. In order to prepare the management team for success in these markets, your supervisor, Jim Novik, has asked you to prepare a management primer to be used at upcoming trainings. A primer is an introductory document that prepares other managers for what is next by covering the basics of the subject. This primer should describe the characteristics of a global leader in management and describe and explain the benefits and challenges associated with multicultural teams. As many of the managers who will be leading this initiative are new to multicultural teams, your manager has assured you that you should stick to the basics.

To assist you in creating this primer, your supervisor has provided you with a list of countries targeted by TalkBox for potential expansion. As part of your primer, you are to select two countries and analyze them using Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Your analysis should describe how the cultural dimensions of both of your targeted countries affect the business environment. Finally, based on your analysis of these countries and your understanding of management best practices for dealing with multicultural teams, make recommendations for management best practices that account for the cultural dimensions of the targeted countries.

Directions

To support TalkBox's expansion into new global markets, your manager has tasked you with creating a primer that addresses best practices for managing multicultural teams, analyzes the cultural dimensions of two target countries, and recommends management practices that account for the cultural dimensions of the targeted countries.

• Cultural Analysis: In the second half of your primer, your supervisor has requested that you analyze two countries that are currently targeted by TalkBox for expansion. Jim has asked you to ground your analysis in Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. This analysis should focus on how the cultural dimensions of your chosen countries affect the business environment. In constructing this element of your primer, address the following items:
• Use Hofstede's cultural dimensions to describe two countries as they relate to a business environment.
• Analyze the impact of the cultural dimensions of two countries on the business environment.