Reference no: EM133338269

Questions: What are some of the sources of McDermott's excellence at managing cross-cultural differences? How did his experience managing a deli store at a young age help him develop cross-cultural management skills?

In my opinion, I think that McDermott's sources to managing cross-cultural differences mainly come from his experiences and his ability to understand that in global business you cannot rely on a "one size fits all" strategy. McDermott had a plethora of experience in many jobs from a young age. Having worked at a grocery store, stocking shelves, and pumping gas as a boy living in Long Island, McDermott developed an ability to work with a diverse group of people (McDermott, 2016). His experience of owning and managing a deli store in Long Island also helped him develop the skills that he would need in the future by allowing him the opportunity to interact with a variety of people from diverse backgrounds (Bright, D, S., Cortes, A, H. 2019). McDermott credits this experience with helping him develop the empathy he would later use in his interactions as a manager and a global business leader (McDermott, 2016).

What are some of the cross-cultural differences he discovered? Using your knowledge of culture, explain some of these differences.

Some of the cross-cultural differences he discovered were those between the sales approaches people were using in the United States and Germany. He noticed that customers in the US preferred more inspiring and quicker presentations that could hook their attention. German customers on the other hand preferred more structured presentations that relied more on facts than a "woah" factor. (Bright, D, S., Cortes, A, H. 2019). McDermott also noticed that in Asia, building and maintaining relationships is more important than the product you are trying to sell (Bright, D, S., Cortes, A, H. 2019). I think that when you are branching out a company to the global market, a lot of research has to be conducted to understand the cultural norms, customs, and courtesies of each specific region and country that you are trying to get into. The smallest of details can make a big difference in global business. For example, knowing how firm to grip someone's hand when you give them a handshake is important, as well as knowing what to order at a restaurant during a business meeting (Uzialko, 2022).

What is your assessment of his lessons for cross-cultural managers? Relate these lessons to the GLOBE findings of the effective global leader.

I think that there is something to learn from every effective manager, and McDermott's lessons for cross-cultural manager are especially important given how effective of a leader he was in the realm of global business. The only way to get to know your customers is by listening to them and trying to understand them. This is something that he emphasizes when he recommends that managers be "empathetic and show humility" (Bright, D, S., Cortes, A, H. 2019). His lessons highly relate to the GLOBE findings in that depending on the region of the world you are working with, you will see that a lot of the countries within those regions, or clusters, have very similar cultural norms, and each culture responds better to certain leadership characteristics that some managers may have over others. Cultures also have certain personality traits or behaviors that they admire more than others. When dealing with cultures that are different from your own, it is important to know what is acceptable and what is not. Respect, being open to dialogue, and showing humility is a great way to understanding other cultures without coming off as offensive.