Cross-Cultural and International Issues
Imagine yourself as a manager who has been working for the XYZ Corporation in Boston for the last three years. You are being sent for a six month assignment to another country, which is culturally quite different from the U.S. Describe Hofstede’s framework, use it to compare the American culture with the culture in which you’ll be working for the next six months, and describe what you might do to enhance your chances of success dealing the cross-cultural challenges of this assignment.
Conflict and Communications
1. “I don’t want excuses, I just want results,” Mike, the regional sales manager says to the sales executives. He is frustrated by the results from most of the sales executives. Since sales executives are always in field, he writes emails and makes phone calls to be in touch with them. However, he feels that they just do not follow his suggestions. The sales teams also share similar feelings. They find him insensitive to their needs and think that he does not see things their way. However, they do not express their issues to him. When Mike was asked if there are any problems with his staff, he replied, “We just can’t seem to communicate.”
Using the scenario above as a basis, describe at least three major different barriers to communication and suggest good ways to overcome these barriers. In addition, describe how Mike might manage the potential conflict with others most effectively.
2. What perceptual biases contribute hinder interpersonal communication and contribute to conflict? Provide at least two specific examples pertaining to conflict/communication and two pertaining to biases and perceptions that might contribute to miscommunication and conflict and consider how such obstacles might be overcome.