Culture

1) in writing describe a significant incident out of your own experience involving a cross cultural clash between 2 or more individuals from different cultures, which has left to person A with the

question “what happened”. write in the third person, BE CREATIVE. (not more than 500 words)

The incident should have the following criteria:
– at least one of the individual held an erroneous assumption about the culture of other individuals (both individuals can have erroneous assumption), and proceeded to say or do something

that was culturally incorrect
– the mistaken behaviour of the first person (person A) was followed by a response from the person of the second culture (person B, can be more than one individual) which was not understood

by person A and which he or she found disconcerting or upsetting, wondering what has happened.

2) provide 4 logical explanations for the incident with one being the best explanation for the cross cultural clash. compose each of the possible explanation carefully, and attempt to render

each one superficially plausible. each of the 4 possible explanation should not exceed 75 words – thus part 2 should not exceed 300 words in total

3)based on academic research and facts provide a comprehensive cross-cultural analysis of the incident which explains the behaviours you described from both person’s perspectives, by using

appropriate theories and frameworks relevant to the course i.e. this explains why the cross-cultural clash occurred. (no more than 1000 words) (course textbook – Luthan Doh; International

Management Culture, strategy and behaviour)

4)write 4 short para about each of the 4 possible explanations based on academic research and facts showing why one answer is correct or best answer and why other three answers are not

correct.

note that the short para that provides the best rationale for the best/ correct answer can be similar to part 3 above, i.e. one that explains why cross cultural clash occurred.

each rationale should not exceed 150 words – thus part 4 should not exceed 600 words in total

OUTLINE:
1) incident – (350 to 500 words)

2) Explanation A (50 to 75 words)
Explanation B (50 to 75 words)
Explanation C (50 to 75 words)
Explanation D (50 to 75 words)

3)Comprehensive research based cross cultural analysis of incident (less than 1000 words)

4) Rationale A, why or why this option is not the best explanation (100 to 150 words)
Rationale B, why or why this option is not the best explanation (100 to 150 words)
Rationale C, why or why this option is not the best explanation (100 to 150 words)
Rationale D, why or why this option is not the best explanation (100 to 150 words)

Mini Case:
Stefan Phillips, a manager for a large U.S. airline, was transferred to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to set up a new office. Although Stefan had several other extended overseas assignments in Paris and

Brussels, he was not well prepared for working in the Arab world.

At the end of his first week Stefan came home in a state of near total frustration. As he sat down for dinner table that night he told his wife how exasperating it had been to work with the local

employees, who, he claimed, seemed to take no responsibility for anything. Whenever something went wrong they would simply say “Inshallah” (“if God wills it”). For example, workers were often

late arriving and when they did were often slow starting work; furthermore, if parts were needed, they were not available when it was supposed to be.

Coming from a culture which sees no problem as insolvable, Stefan could not understand how the local employees could be so passive about job related problems. “If I hear one more Inshallah,”

he told his wife, “I’ll go crazy”.

Can you explain what is happening and what advice might you give?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the basic cause of his problem?
Were the perceptions correct?
Explain the behaviors of both parties.
What frameworks/ theories explain the behavior?
Possible solutions.

IBUS3309 TUTORIAL 3

Explanation/ Theoretical Framework
Trompenaar’s Cultural Dimensions (Luthan&Doh Chapter 4)

US CULTURE:
•    Universalism – the belief that ideas and practices can be applied everywhere without modifications
•    Individualism – refers to people regarding themselves as individuals

SAUDI ARABIA CULTURE:
•    Collectivism/ communitarism/ outer-directed culture – refers to people regarding themselves as part of a group/ all things are subject to the direct will of God or external forces

Concept of time:
•    US people tend to be guided by sequential time orientation
•    While the Saudi people take synchronous approaches to do activities

Dealing with the environment:
•    US managers feel strongly that they are the masters of their own fate.  This helps accounts for their dominant attitude
•    While Saudi managers believe that despite all efforts, the desired ends will not happen unless God is willing.

Possible solutions (think from a practical point of view):
•    Perhaps Stefan would have been less frustrated if he had translated “Ishallah”to means “if possible” or “God willing” rather than as a knee jerking response to absolve oneself of all

responsibility of one’s actions.
•    Be flexible – do not treat everyone the same as you
•    Educate yourself about a new culture
•    Recognise when something different appears to be happening
•    Analyse and interpret what is happening and develop two or more strategies – Acculturation strategy may be – adhering, avoiding, contending, adapting, adopting and advancing

depends on circumstances
•    Select and implement a strategy
•    Do appropriate and effective communication
•    Observe the response of the other party and correct if necessary.

CASE ANALYSIS GUIDELINE:

Step 1 – Take business information or background
•    What business the organisation is in?
•    What are its objectives?
•    What are its strengths and weaknesses?
•    What are the opportunities and threats?
•    Who are its customers?

Step 2 – Identify key problems and determine decision requirements
•    What are the problems or issues to be solved?
•    What are the decisions to be made?
•    What are the decision criteria and evidence?

Step 3 – Understand the facts towards solution
•    Facts are relevant and key to solution
•    What are the symptoms or causes?
•    What are the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the organisation’s strengths and weaknesses
•    What results do you expect and why?

Step 4 – Identify alternative solutions
•    What are the alternatives?
•    Are they relevant to the problem at hand?
•    What are the supports (alternatives should be supported by data)?

Step 5 – Evaluate alternative solutions and recommend the best or combination
•    What is your evaluation of the alternatives in view of the decision criteria?
•    What are the pros and cons of each?
•    Which alternative or combination of alternatives would you choose? Why?

Step 6 – Prepare action plan for implementation and recommend solution
•    What is your plan of action?
•    Outline your plan by answering the questions who, what, when, where, how (you can make a table here)
•    Finally, what results do you expect? Why?

GENERAL OUTLINE OF CASE REPORT:

•    Executive summary
•    Statement of key problems/ opportunities/ objectives
•    Analysis of solutions
•    Identification and evaluation of alternative solutions
•    Decision or course of action and implementation

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