Reference no: EM13334224

Potential Problems in Multicultural Teams

How has diversity made working in multicultural teams more difficult for you?

Post in the course Forum and note in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal at least five ways that diversity has made working in multicultural teams more difficult for you, and give an example of each from your own experience. Note the problems that you readily observe versus those that you, until now, have not noticed. To effectively lead a multicultural team, you must be aware of the full range of potential problems so that you can guide the team away from these potential productivity "traps" that can be caused by diversity.

Review your list of problems and identify at least one leadership strategy that you could use to minimize the chances of that problem manifesting itself in multicultural teams. You may want organize your Forum post and journal entry in table format with the following column headings:

Problems caused by diversity Example Leadership Strategy

Exercise 5B: Leading Prominent Multinational Teams

Select a multinational political or economic team that is currently in the news. Using the cultural synergy approach, how would you lead the team? What outcomes would you strive to achieve? What leadership interventions would you use to increase the team's chances of success?

Analyze the impact and potential impact of diversity on the team. Then make recommendations of suggested leadership interventions that you think would be most likely to maximize the team's effectiveness.

Participate in the Forum discussion for this exercise, and reflect on your personal learning in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal.


5C: Leading Multinational e-Teams

With the explosion of global e-business, the increase in the number of multinational distanced e-teams is rapid. In the course Forum, discuss what working on a multicultural e-team easier than working on a multinational team where all members are geographically located in the same place? What makes working on multinational e-teams more difficult? What makes multinational e-teams easier, and more difficult, to lead than their face-to-face counterparts?

Reflect on your personal learning in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal.

Exercise 5D: Ethical Decision Making, A Sales Representative in the Middle East

A sales representative in the Middle East describes a real situation in which some people believe unethical behavior is taking place or could take place. First, read the scenario below. Then decide what you would do and why. Note what information you would use to investigate the question, what alternatives you would consider, and what criteria you would use to make the decision. Warning: From a cross-cultural perspective, the situation is not simple.

Scenario:

You hold the position of marketing director for a construction company in the Middle East. Your company has bid on a substantial project that it wants very much to get. Yesterday the cousin of the minister who will award the contract suggested that he might be of help. You are reasonably sure that with his help the chances of getting the contract would increase substantially. For his assistance the minister expects US$20,000. You would have to pay this in addition to the standard fees to your agent. If you do not make this payment to the minister, you are certain that he will go to your competition (who has won the last three contracts), and they will make the payment and most likely get the contract.

Your company has no code of conduct yet, although it formed a committee some time ago to consider one. The government of your country recently passed an Ethical Business Practices Act. The pertinent paragraph is somewhat vague but implies that this kind of payment would probably be a violation of the act. The person to whom you report, and those above him, do not want to become involved. The decision is yours to make.

Participate in the Forum discussion for this exercise, and reflect on your personal learning in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal.


Exercise 5E: Ethical Decision Making, Hazardous Materials in West Africa

The scenario below describes a real situation in which some people believe unethical behavior is taking place or could take place. First, read the scenario. Then decide what you would do and why. Note what information you would use to investigate the question, what alternatives you would consider, and what criteria you would use to make the decision. Warning: From a cross-cultural perspective, the situation is not simple.

Scenario:

For one year now, you have been the international vice president of a global firm that produces and markets chemicals. The minister of agriculture in a small developing country in West Africa has requested a series of large shipments over the next five years of a special insecticide that only your firm prepares. The minister believes that this chemical is the only one that will rid one of his country's crops of a new infestation that threatens to destroy it. You know, however, that one other insecticide would probably be equally effective; it is produced in another country and has never been allowed in your own country.

Your insecticide, MIM, is highly toxic. After years of debate, your government has just passed a law forbidding its use in your country. There is evidence that dangerous amounts are easily ingested by humans through residue on vegetables, through animals that eat the crops, and through the water supply. After careful thought, you tell the minister about this evidence. He still insists on using it, arguing that it is necessary and it will be used "intelligently." You are quite sure that, ten years from now, the insecticide will begin to damage the health of some of his people.

Both the president and executive vice president of your firm feel strongly that the order should be filled. In addition to questioning their own government's position, they are very concerned about the large inventory of MIM on hand and the serious financial setback its prohibition will cause the company. They have made it clear, however, that the decision is up to you. Although the company has a code of conduct and your government has an Ethical Business Practices Act, neither covers hazardous materials.

Participate in the Forum discussion for this exercise, and reflect on your personal learning in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal.
Exercise 5F: Building Better Multinational Teams

Focus on a multicultural team of which you have been a member. Answer the following questions:
1.When was the team operating particularly effectively? What was happening at that time?
2.When did you most enjoy working on the team? Why?
3.When have you been proudest to be a member of this team? Why?

Participate in the Forum discussion for this exercise, and reflect on your personal learning in your Global Insight and Wisdom Journal.