Reference no: EM133288992

Assignment:

Scenario

Consider an interesting situation faced by three professionals from an organization who have flown into a Caribbean country to meet with a host country national who runs the organization's factory. The organizational representatives include the HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER director, the director of operations for the firm, and the safety professional. The intent is to discuss the number and types of positions needed to expand operations for a new product line. The product is of a more sophisticated nature than what is currently being produced. All representatives are peers in organizational terms, so they have no authority over the actions or decisions of each other.

The three meet to discuss plans to review operational requirements and then move to build a staffing pattern. Early in the negotiations, it is clear that the host country national and the HRM director are getting along well and seem to be communicating effectively toward what appear to be common goals. The operations director seems frustrated and is asking lots of questions that do not seem to get answered, at least in his opinion. The operations director is very present-focused, while both of the other people are future-focused. Eventually, the operations manager becomes so frustrated he leaves the room and says he will come back later.

While this meeting is going on, the female safety professional has been waiting for two hours to see the maintenance supervisor at his office. He has not yet arrived. She calls the operations director, who is quite upset and is at the hotel having a drink because he is so frustrated with the way the whole trip is going. He says this is not the "way to do business." Things are not going well for two out of three members of this visiting group.

Instructions

For this discussion, respond to the following:

• What are some of the attributes affecting the events indicated above?
• What could be done to remedy them?
• Who in the group could do it and why should they?
• How did things get off on the wrong foot?
• Is culture the issue here? Or are there other things?

All discussion posts in this course should:

• Demonstrate critical analysis and evaluation of the week's materials.
• Reference trade publications and scholarly literature relevant to unit materials.
• Engage in reflective modes of inquiry that both evaluate the current status of knowledge to determine gaps or needs for new knowledge and potentially create new areas of inquiry.
• Suggest strategies and tactics for incorporating awareness of cultural dimensions into the practice of global HRM.