Week Seven Activities

Read chapter seven in your textbook.

Campus Students: Participate in the classroom discussions as directed by your instructor.

Discussion Question $($online students$)$: After reviewing the $$Framework for Positivity$$ in your text, how can you as a leader$/$future leader create a culture of positivity during difficult times where the morale is low? For instance, how have you handled, or would you have handled the transition into the virtual workforce during the COVID pandemic as a means to maintain high levels of morale and productivity? Apply the principles of the $$Framework for Positivity$$ in your response.

Research and prepare for the week eight research paper:

You have been promoted to the position of HR Generalist at Grand Lodge Technology Solutions and have discovered that there are problems related to hiring diversely. After further investigation there is no evidence to suggest that there are any issues related to disparate

treatment or impact but rather what seems to be relevant for this global organization is that the hiring takes place solely in the United States and the demographics for those who apply are $90\%$ the same nationality. Additionally, the company is global and there is a disconnect between the cultures of the consumers in the respective countries served. The customer bases are located in China, Switzerland, Canada and Mexico; after further review of the situation, it appears that there is an opportunity to hire globally and create a virtual team to address how to market, sell and support technology solutions in these countries. After conducting an employee engagement survey, it was revealed that $75\%$ of the current employees and team leads do not feel engaged in the work that they do$,$ and $50\%$ of the employees $($including the team leaders$)$ stated that they would consider working for another company. Further investigation also revealed that because of this homogenous culture, there are two employees who seem to dominate the decision making: One team leader and one team member. It was later discovered that the team member who was hired by this respective team leader were members of Moo Moo Pi fraternity at the University of Samoa.

Sales for the last year have decreased by $25\%$ globally and the morale, as indicated by the survey is dangerously low. Rock and Grant $(2016)$ indicated in their study that public companies in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity were $35\%$ more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean. Additionally, the study revealed that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity were $15\%$ more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean $(2016).$ Finally, the study concluded that it is more likely that with a diverse team$/$workforce there

is a greater probability of eliminating the $$social majority$.$

Based on the circumstances of this case study please address the following in two to three pages:

$$ Identify general and specific problems in this case.

$$ Review and research how the respective countries in this case conduct business differently than in the United States. Support your contentions with research.

$$ Develop a strategy for dissolving the current team norms $($including the potential for cronyism$)$

$$ Develop a plan that improves communication throughout the team and includes hiring employees overseas from these respective countries. Consider the idea that the employees must adapt to a diverse team with a global mindset and make recommendations to implement a diverse team that will communicate inclusivity; it is important to also detail how this plan can improve morale.

Week Eight Rubric:

Week Eight Problem Identification and Problem$-$Solving Org. Behavior Paper

The student detailed a clear and concise problem statement

The student did not provide a problem statement$-0$ points

The student$$s problem statement lacked clarity$-$

$1\mathrm{.}5-2$ points

The student$$s problem statement was mostly clear and concise but there is an opportunity for some revision$-2\mathrm{.}5$ points

The student demonstrated mastery about how to develop a problem statement$-3$ points

The student clearly articulated the differences in the countries and their respective cultures and how they communicate$/$conduct business

No reference to how the various countries conduct business$-0$ points

The student is developing but there are several areas for improvement$-1-1\mathrm{.}5$ points

There are some areas in reference to clarity but overall the student articulated the differences in countries and cultures$-2-2\mathrm{.}5$ point

The student demonstrated mastery$-3$ points

The student clearly stated how a leader can dissolve the current team norms in the case study and promote effective communication in a diverse workforce

No reference to how a leader can dissolve the current team norms$-0$ points

The student is developing but there are several areas for improveme