CASE STUDY 2.1CASE STUDY 2.1HEADING FOR THE BIG HEADING FOR THE BIG

APPLEAPPLEBY JEFFERY BAGRAIM, BY JEFFERY BAGRAIM,

UNIVERSITY OF UNIVERSITY OF CAPETOWNCAPETOWN

1) IN SELECTING SOMEONE FOR A 1) IN SELECTING SOMEONE FOR A FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT, WHAT FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT, WHAT

CRITERIA WOULD YOU SET IN THE CRITERIA WOULD YOU SET IN THE SELECTION PROCESS?SELECTION PROCESS?

WHAT FACTORS SHOULD WHAT FACTORS SHOULD ORGANIZATION CONSIDER WHEN ORGANIZATION CONSIDER WHEN

TRYING TO FACILITATE THE TRYING TO FACILITATE THE SMOOTH CROSS CULTURAL SMOOTH CROSS CULTURAL

TRANSITIONS OF THEIR TRANSITIONS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES?EMPLOYEES?

Criteria would include that:Criteria would include that:

Person should have a passion of Person should have a passion of learning about different cultures, learning about different cultures,

Passion of working within diverse Passion of working within diverse cultures, cultures,

The person would be willing to The person would be willing to work anywhere in the world, work anywhere in the world,

He/she should have a flexible He/she should have a flexible personality so that he/she could personality so that he/she could adjust anywhere in the world, adjust anywhere in the world,

He/she wants to learn about other He/she wants to learn about other countries working conditions or countries working conditions or work customs and different work customs and different organizational values and organizational values and

He/she should also be adaptive in He/she should also be adaptive in nature to other cultures.nature to other cultures.

2) WHAT FACTORS 2) WHAT FACTORS SHOULD ORGANIZATION SHOULD ORGANIZATION CONSIDER WHEN TRYING CONSIDER WHEN TRYING

TO FACILITATE THE TO FACILITATE THE SMOOTH CROSS CULTURAL SMOOTH CROSS CULTURAL

TRANSITIONS OF THEIR TRANSITIONS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES?EMPLOYEES?

The factors to consider should be:The factors to consider should be:

Able to work effectively with other Able to work effectively with other employees belonging to other employees belonging to other cultures cultures

Should have Heightened awareness Should have Heightened awareness regarding cross cultural skills regarding cross cultural skills

Should be able to make development Should be able to make development plans for to improve his/her cross plans for to improve his/her cross cultural skills when working abroadcultural skills when working abroad

Flexible enough to other cultures and Flexible enough to other cultures and

Should be open for different types of Should be open for different types of experiencesexperiences

Should be Emotional resilience Should be Emotional resilience

Show strength in personal values Show strength in personal values and identity and identity

Should have strong communication Should have strong communication dynamics dynamics

3) WHAT ARE THE 3) WHAT ARE THE CULTURAL CULTURAL

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF AMERICAN NATIONAL AMERICAN NATIONAL

CULTURE AND THE AFFECT CULTURE AND THE AFFECT ORGANIZATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL

BEHAVIOUR IN AMERICAN BEHAVIOUR IN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS?ORGANIZATIONS?

AMERICAN CULTURE:AMERICAN CULTURE:Calling senior people or older people Calling senior people or older people

by first nameby first nameNo dress code for everyday routine No dress code for everyday routine

activities or jobsactivities or jobsDifferent laws from any other country Different laws from any other country

in the worldin the worldPeople usually aggressive in naturePeople usually aggressive in naturePeople blunt in their speechPeople blunt in their speechAssertive and impatient in natureAssertive and impatient in natureThey want to finish their work as They want to finish their work as

soon as possiblesoon as possible

AFFECT ON ORGANIZATIONAL AFFECT ON ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE:CULTURE:

Calling CEO by first nameCalling CEO by first nameNo formal dressingNo formal dressingLabor laws are different in workplaceLabor laws are different in workplaceEmployees aggressive and brassyEmployees aggressive and brassyWorkers are blunt when talkingWorkers are blunt when talkingVery impatient work behaviorVery impatient work behaviorCompleting tasks as soon as Completing tasks as soon as

possible.possible.

4) WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS 4) WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO A GLOBAL ORGANIATION TO A GLOBAL ORGANIATION

OF ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES OF ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO ACCEPT FOREIGN TO ACCEPT FOREIGN

ASSIGNMENTS (CROSS-ASSIGNMENTS (CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGES)?CULTURAL EXCHANGES)?

Benefits: Benefits:

Increased probability of completing Increased probability of completing work goals effectively in a new work goals effectively in a new culture culture

Greater understanding of the logic Greater understanding of the logic and customs of other culturesand customs of other cultures

Deeper insights into the needs and Deeper insights into the needs and opportunities of global marketsopportunities of global markets

Better relationships and communication Better relationships and communication with people from other cultureswith people from other cultures

Reduced culture shock that is greater Reduced culture shock that is greater positive adjustment to living and working in positive adjustment to living and working in a new environmenta new environment

Increased awareness of our own hidden Increased awareness of our own hidden cultural values, and how we are perceived cultural values, and how we are perceived by others by others

Make greater organizational use of Make greater organizational use of employees at all levels of the organization employees at all levels of the organization

Have a global mindset and operate Have a global mindset and operate throughout the world as a single throughout the world as a single entity entity

Synergize the various cultures within Synergize the various cultures within and outside the company and work and outside the company and work with the values and practices of with the values and practices of different people different people

Convey its operations across cultures Convey its operations across cultures in an effective, user-friendly way. in an effective, user-friendly way.

5) IN WHICH COUNTRIES 5) IN WHICH COUNTRIES ARE EMPLOYEES MOST ARE EMPLOYEES MOST

LIKE EMPLOYEES IN YOUR LIKE EMPLOYEES IN YOUR COUNTRIES AND IN WHICH COUNTRIES AND IN WHICH

COUNTRIES ARE COUNTRIES ARE EMPLOYEES ARE LEAST EMPLOYEES ARE LEAST

LIKE THOSE IN YOUR LIKE THOSE IN YOUR COUNTRY?COUNTRY?

As Pakistan is in Asia so mostly As Pakistan is in Asia so mostly its neighboring countries like India its neighboring countries like India and Bangladesh are similar in the and Bangladesh are similar in the aspect of organizational behaviors aspect of organizational behaviors

like values and the nature of people like values and the nature of people is similar is similar

Norms are almost similarNorms are almost similar Way of speech is similarWay of speech is similar But it is totally different from the But it is totally different from the

countries that are Africa, USA, Middle countries that are Africa, USA, Middle East or Europe.East or Europe.

6) HOW WOULD YOU 6) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN DESCRIBE YOUR OWN

NATIONAL CULTURE AND NATIONAL CULTURE AND WHY IS IT OFTEN VERY WHY IS IT OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY YOUR OWN NATIONAL YOUR OWN NATIONAL

CULTURE?CULTURE?

Islam is practiced by the majority of Islam is practiced by the majority of Pakistanis and governs their personal, Pakistanis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. political, economic and legal lives.

Among certain obligations for Muslims are Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.afternoon, sunset, and evening.

During the holy month of Ramadan all During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. cigarette smoking, or gum chewing.

Loyalty to the family comes before other Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships, even business. social relationships, even business.

The family is more private than in many The family is more private than in many other cultures.other cultures.

Families are quite large by western Families are quite large by western standards, often having up to 6 children. standards, often having up to 6 children.

Pakistan is a hierarchical society. People Pakistan is a hierarchical society. People are respected because of their age and are respected because of their age and position. position. Older people are viewed as wise and are Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. In a social situation, they granted respect. In a social situation, they are always served first. are always served first.

In general, this is not a culture where first names In general, this is not a culture where first names are commonly used, except among close friends. are commonly used, except among close friends.

Pakistanis expect the most senior person, by age Pakistanis expect the most senior person, by age or position, to make decisions that are in the or position, to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. best interest of the group.

Pakistani names often include a name that Pakistani names often include a name that denotes a person's class, tribe, occupation, or denotes a person's class, tribe, occupation, or other status indicator.other status indicator.

Pakistani dressing is conservative. Pakistani dressing is conservative.

It is very difficult to identify your own culture It is very difficult to identify your own culture because you live within it and if a foreigner because you live within it and if a foreigner will come from outside then he will better will come from outside then he will better

interpret your culture than his culture.interpret your culture than his culture.