...1. INTRODUCTION Multicultural teams have become very common in recent years. With cross border mobility becoming much easier the number of people moving from one country to another has grown significantly. This has also led to more people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds intermarrying. Their children could be born and grow up in different countries and have hybrid cultural identities. Globalization and the advances in communication and transportation technology have reduced trade barriers and increased interaction among people. Multicultural teams have become more common in our organizations, and contemporary international management literature has identified that the management of multicultural teams is an important aspect of human resource management. Recent studies have focussed on the positive effects of using multicultural teams, for example, Earleyand Mosakowski (2000) stated that multicultural teams are used because they are perceived to out-perform monoculture teams, especially when performance requires multiple skills and judgement. However, there has been little research into construction-specific multicultural teams, and many construction organisations, although expanding into global operations do not fully appreciate the implications and are often unable to respond to cultural factors affecting their project teams. 1.1 Objective of the diploma paper • To explain challenges faced by Multicultural team and how to manage them • To give recommendations on...
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...Management of Cross Cultural Teams- Problems and Effective Management of Cross- Cultural Teams VAIBHAV MISRA Management Consultant and Ex- Lecturer Bora Institute of Management Sciences Lucknow INDIA vaibhav.misra@aol.in ABSTRACT As the world economy is globalized the companies are expanding their businesses in international markets for business profitability. The teams are recruited by these companies in the international market for the business tasks to be performed. These teams belong to different cultural background and have different values. The author will discuss about the problems faced by these cross- cultural teams. The author had also focused on the strategies to cope up with these problems of cross- cultural teams. The author will act as researcher and will use exploratory research design, i.e. the study will be based on secondary data taken from magazines, journals, internet and reports. These tools will help author to conclude the objectives of the study. The author found that there are problems among the cross-cultural teams regarding their cultural background. The different ways are also suggested to cope up with the problems faced by crosscultural teams. The author had also focused on how to create effective management of multicultural teams. RESEARCH VALUE The research may be valuable for the companies who are looking for expanding the business and also for those companies who are facing the cross- cultural team issue. workplace leads to heightened tensions...
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...workforce and employee training is essential for organizational success. Training is vital for the following reasons: education of workers for the effective use of technology, to ensure career development and personal growth, and for increase productivity and profitability. Global organizations must find ways to accommodate specialized training and explore best practices as it relates to: conflict management, effective multicultural leadership and management skills, and stress management in global environments. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT The effective management of conflict is an important competency required by leaders in globalized business environments. However, developing this skill is more difficult in multicultural team environments than in team building among individuals from the same culture. Therefore, it is essential for multi-international businesses to understand the impact of conflict management on team building and implement targeted training programs. Targeted Conflict Management Training Programs should address the following: • Differences in work styles • Integrated language • Understand how cultural influences workplace relationship building • Specific cultural barriers that could potentially impact team building • Personality Conflicts EFFECTIVE MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS Effective multicultural leadership is the driving force of an organization and can determine the success or failure of an organization entering into global markets. Therefore...
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...of cultural sensitivity, language skills, market knowledge and information of business networks at their own countries to drive business growth. (Nataatmadia & Dyson, 2005). However, multinational companies will also have some problems or challenges. Communication in multinational companies would be a lot more difficult because they employ employees from various countries. People from different countries have different cultures; this is the reason why this factor could cause them to fail to understand each another. Moreover, companies which operate in various languages areas will have difficulties at communicating with the local employees because they speak different language. (Kundu, 2001). SICLI have problem in coping with the new management style after the company was acquired by Williams Holdings PLC. This company is a multinational company because it operates in many countries. Moreover, the company also employs workers from various countries. This is why they need to find out what policies could help the company to minimize the problems. Section A Companies like SICLI or Williams Holdings PLC that operates in several of countries and employs employees from different countries should adopt some policies in order to prevent problems. To settle these issues, the CEO of SICLI or Williams Holdings PLC must adopt some policies which could help them to settle the...
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...Helping an International Friend Develop as a Team Leader Gena Lucas Leadership Strategies February 29th, 2016 Strayer University International Leader In a diverse world many companies include employees from different races, nationalities, religions and age groups to become leaders within the company. A multicultural leader is a leader with the skills and attitudes to relate effectively to and motivate people across race, gender, age, social attitudes and lifestyles. (DuBrin, 2013) As a team lead in my company, I have been tasked with coaching a multicultural employee into a leadership position. I feel that as a leader, my job is to motivate and influence anyone who wants to take the task on as being a leader. As a leader, I do recommend that anyone taking on the task of showing others how to become a successful leader should be aware as DuBrin stated “of overt and subtle cultural differences”. Conflicts with Work on Days of Religious Significance There are many conflicts with having employees work on days where they have religious obligations. As a leader, you have to be aware of these conflicts and how to handle them. One conflict that can arise is how the employee dress or groom themselves. There are some religions that require women to wear head dressings or prohibit men from cutting their hair. Another conflict that an employee may have is needing time off for religious holidays or breaks during the day for prayer with a schedule that...
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...1000e106 Open Access Managing Multicultural Construction Teams in today’s Complex Global Environment Edward Ochieng* Faculty of Technology and Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK The rapid globalisation of the world’s economy has had significant impact on the way construction project managers work, bringing them frequently with clients, suppliers and peer that they never work before. In an era of globalisation, projects in the construction industry face unique challenges in coordinating among clients, financiers, developers, designers and contractors from different countries. In addition, construction project teams need to cope with the complexities of both local institutions and physical environments. Bartlett and Gosha [1] discussed the challenges facing organisations, which are intending to work effectively across borders. They identified the major challenges as being able to develop practices, which balance global competitiveness, multinational flexibility and the building of a worldwide learning capability. They maintained that achieving this balance will require organisations to develop the cultural sensitivity and ability to manage and leverage learning to build future capabilities. While offering opportunities, globalisation also poses significant challenges for construction project managers especially when different cultures are involved as a team. Multicultural construction project teams have their culture as a set of shared...
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...Management Organization Behaviour TEAM REPORT Albert Anthonius Lim MEW2014559009 Introduction This paper delves into multicultural teamwork as a source of experiential learning. The aim of this piece was to explore my thoughts, feelings and reactions to the sometimes turbulent, sometimes joyful live stories of a diverse collection of multicultural psychologists. Managing High Team Performance had taught us the many elements in forming and maintaining a team. This course involves team interaction to complete the team project. There are good and challenging times in the team. Through these experiences it allows us to be more aware of the negative as well as positive aspect of teamwork. Managing High Team Performance had taught us the many elements in forming and maintaining a team. This course involves team interaction to complete the team project. There are good and challenging times in the team. Through these experiences it allows us to be more aware of the negative as well as positive aspect of teamwork. All of my team members are come from different nation. In addition, my team members consist of: * Albert Anthonius Lim – Indonesia * Andrea Heredia – Peru * Daniella Gateka – Burundi * Pattaraporn Ounphaisankun - Thailand * Tobias Kretschmann – Germany Differences and Problems Workings in a group that consist of different members from all different countries are become a new and interesting point for me. All teams have commonalities towards...
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...contribute more effectively to organisations success than organisation working with single culture employees. But the authors of the article “Managing Multicultural Teams” (henceforth referred as core article) are of the opinion that cultural differences are sometimes capable of exacerbating challenges associated with effective team work. With the belief that multiculturism is timely need of 21st century, this essay strongly emphasises that multicultural teams often generate frustrating management dilemmas and works on solutions that a manger could implement to tackle this problem. A diverse or multicultural team by definition is not homogeneous. A homogeneous team tends to use the same words, meanings, expressions and speak the same language. They usually rely on same verbal and nonverbal cues to meanings. A classic example of this is Indians nod in a particular style. Western people find it difficult to interpret their nod while Indians are pretty comfortable with such style as they belong to same homogeneous group or team of people. On contrary a diverse team consists of people speaking different languages with different ascents. In such kind of team main problem is group cohesiveness where people tend to group up with people corresponding to their homogeneous teams. It is very difficult to create cohesiveness within such diverse teams. Sometimes advantages of diverse...
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...has mirrored into the workforce. According to Census Bureau data, immigrant workers made up 42 percent of the growth of the labor force in 2012 (Cohen, n.d). Managers now recognize that cultural diversity in the workplace is a challenge that must be addressed to lead an effective team. A culturally diverse workforce has many competitive advantages. Frist, by capturing cultural diversity, the company will gain an added value and competitive advantage over companies that have ignored this challenge (Gwynne, 2009). People despite their cultural upbringing, feel valued. By tapping into the human value of each individual, managers will gain an increased commitment and productivity, strengthen work relationships and retain the best employees. The second, benefit is business growth. Targeted audiences in a global market, come from multicultural backgrounds. Members with different multicultural background will bring ethnic authenticity (Gwynne, 2009). This means language skills, knowledge of business network and cultural sensitivity from their home countries. This is an added asset that the company can use to gain a competitive advantage into targeting a new audience. A third advantage to a multicultural team is the potential to gain new a consumer base at home. A perfect example of this is Avon Company. Once an unprofitable company, Avon was able to turn business around by placing African-American and Hispanic managers in charge of marketing (Gwynne, 2009). People from culturally...
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...The Importance of Understanding Culture in International Business | Business Management in an International Context | | The increasing number of interactions between independent countries, companies and people has highlighted the importance of an understanding of global cultures, both national and organisational. Culture plays a large role in the way individuals behave and interact with one another and therefore plays an important role in business interactions across cultures. Many definitions of culture are offered, but one more relevant to culture in international business is : “Culture is the way in which a group of people solves problems and reconciles dilemmas.” (E.Schein 1985) The first way in which countries can be broadly categorized is into either a high context or a low context culture. High context cultures place more emphasis on the importance of group identity. They have a high sensory involvement and participate more readily in bodily contact. Low context cultures prioritise individualistic properties. They use body language less frequently and are monochronic thus placing a high importance on timing and scheduling. Most Northern European countries and other western societies are low context cultures. It has been suggested by the acclaimed social scientist, Norbert Elias (1978) that the development of society and the basis of its’ cultural contexts are closely associated with the prominent historical groups of the region leading to an establishment...
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...Journal of Comparative International Management 2009, Vol. 12, no.2, 73-89 ©2009 Management futures Printed in canada Cross-cultural Communication and Multicultural Team Performance: A German and American Comparison by Steven W. Congden University of Hartford, U.S.A. Alexei V. Matveev College of Staten Island – CUNY, U.S.A David E. Desplaces College of Charleston, U.S.A. This study builds on work by Matveev & Nelson (2004) which investigated the relationship between cross-cultural communication competence and multicultural team performance using American and Russian managers. This study examines the impact of national culture on German and American subjects. While a relationship between cross-cultural communication competence and multicultural team performance was found, it did not differ by overall national culture. Of the four dimensions of cross-cultural communication competence, only Cultural Empathy was found to be significantly different between Germans and Americans. No differences were found for the dimensions of Interpersonal Skills, Team Effectiveness, and Cultural Uncertainty. 1. Introduction Worldwide intercultural cooperation drives corporate growth and development across the globe resulting in a heightened demand for a qualified but diverse workforce. researchers have documented that the successful performance of multicultural teams is a vital and contributing factor to organizational success (Jackson, may, & Whitney, 1995; Snow, Snell, davison, & hambrick...
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...that Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. had experienced, the company will eventually face some cultural changes in the future. Also, a diverse workforce will have an effect on teamwork as well as communication. However, Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. is not the only large company that will come across cultural changes. Nowadays, the trend for many companies is to expand into another country with the goal to gain a diverse workforce and to enter an international market. Although this trend is extremely beneficial for the company’s success and survival, there are some negative aspects as well. Possible Cultural Changes in Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. The world is becoming more diverse and most large companies are multicultural. Diversity definitely has brought new importance to the workplace. Because of the increase of diverse employees from all over the world, it is almost impossible for Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. to not counteract any cultural changes. Combining people from different backgrounds can cause tension in the workplace. People of different nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, ages, etc. interact with each other differently and perceive things in different ways. In addition, the working environment and culture at Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. may change. The change can be either positive or negative. Employees will learn from one another, broaden their knowledge, and become more creative. When people of various cultures work...
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...Task 1 Compare and contrast different organisational structures and culture of the following 3 organizations 1) http://arcedairy.com 2) www.dairyqueen.com.ph 3) www.ue.edu.ph 1. Company Information i) Background of Company ii) Industry situation iii) Missions Statement iv) Primary Business Activities a) Why they are important and b) How they are accomplished 2. Organizational Structure of Company i) Diagram 3. Value Chain & Critical Processes i) Chart 4.0 People Management i) Why people want to work here or looking for other opportunities. Task 2 Human behavior and values are not self-generating; they are by-products of culture. TRUE or FALSE Why? Task 3 • Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business. I think many human behaviors are self-generating. If they weren't then there wouldn't be variations in social norms. Many people's values seem to run independant from their stereotypical social norms. There are just as many "Moral" athiest as there are moral religious people in how they treat others. There's also an equal number of immoral or amoral individuals spanning all cultures and races. If values were completely external, then all would conform. The way individuals react to social norms is an intrinsic,...
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...active and competitive. The factor that allows companies to survive in such difficult non‐permanent surroundings is their ability for effective adaptation to the change. This adaptation is often driven by cultural diversity (Salas,Goodwin and Burke 2009). Adapting to cultural diversity in this rapidly modernized world is a demanding process, since culture is still much slower to change. Mastering the ability to interact with different cultures is thereby an important device for future business success (C. Thomas&Inkson 2004). There can be identified two sources that are conductive to the existence of cultural diversity in organizations. The first is derived from global change sin transportation, technology and trade that lead to increased human mobility. People relocate around the world for many different reasons as immigrants, temporary workers, retirees, visitors etc. Another factor that contributes to this inflow of new members to communities is the increase of free trade agreements, bilateral treaties and opened borders. Full‐time education abroad, exchange programs, international seminars are increasingly popular among students and their worldwide experience is often highly valued by future employers. This multinational environment creates cultural pluralism within societies (Schmidt, Conaway, Easton andWardrope 2007). Multicultural teams as showed above have become a part of organizations as a...
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...Steven Ward Ahmed Zeedia 3/10/2015 BSAD 550 Dr. Freeman Multicultural theory Multicultural theory or multiculturalism is the theory where we can see here in America. It is the exchange of customs and culture in respect to socioeconomic status, foreign reform, as well as the differences in ethics and religions. Multiculturalism can have an effect in any institution of culture whether it involves government, education, economics, religion, or family. For the purpose of this paper we will focus on strategies and situations many businesses will face. Culture will be defined as “the pattern of shared beliefs and values that give members of an institution meaning, and provide them with the rules for behavior in their organization” (Shafritz, Ott & Jang, 2011, p. 364). We will discuss why the need arises for a business or organization to expand or change their ventures to another vicinity outside of their native culture; what problems can occur during the transition of moving from one culture to the next; and the benefits behind using multiculturalism. Multiculturalism today is met with the demand of the economy on a global scale. Capitalism or the pursuit of profits is a driving factor for businesses to relocate in the hopes of achieving higher margins in profit. The stakeholders, those who have vested both time and resource into a business or organization are persistently pushing businesses for higher profits. Businesses must consider what barriers are necessary to...
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