a) Discuss the key issues in the effective selection, training and support of expatriate managers, with reference to a manager from your own nation sent on an expatriate assignment to a different nation of your choice. NB This option is NOT available to students who have studied the International HRM module.
To answer this essay question:
- Review appropriate articles (the Caligiuri article on Moodle is a useful starting point) to see what authors consider are the key issues
- Do this critically by seeing whether the various authors agree or disagree on the challenges and the way to solve them.
- Clearly state which is your own nation and to which nation the manager is being sent.
Use appropriate cross cultural models to show the differences between the two nations.
Show what specific issues are relevant because of the cultural differences between the two nations.
You are expected to look for relevant journal articles yourself, read them and the ones you have been given, and come to conclusions.
- Make sure you reference fully and properly in Harvard style
b) Critically review literature relating to leadership styles for your own nation and two other nations of your choice, considering how a manager from your nation might need to change their leadership style when working in subsidiaries in the other two nations.
To answer this essay question:
- Review appropriate literature relating to leadership across cultures
- Do this critically by seeing whether the various authors agree or disagree on the challenges and the way to solve them.
- Make sure you characterise clearly the cultures of the three nations you are considering, using
appropriate cross-cultural models
- It would obviously make sense to refer to the GLOBE leadership study!
- Note the key differences in leadership preferences using at least two models and see how the manager might need to change his style
- You are expected to look for relevant journal articles yourself, read them and the ones you have been given, and come to conclusions.
- Make sure you reference fully and properly.
c) Critically review literature relating to negotiation and conflict resolution in your own nation and two other nations of your choice, considering how a manager from your culture would need to modify their strategy and tactics to be successful in dealing with managers and staff from the other two nations.
To answer this essay question:
- Review appropriate literature relating to negotiation and conflict resolution across cultures.
Do this critically by seeing whether the various authors agree or disagree on the differences and the way to solve them.
- Make sure you characterise clearly the cultures of the three nations you are considering in terms of communication, using appropriate cross-cultural models
- Note the key differences in conflict and negotiation using at least two models and see how this will have an effect.
- Offer clear recommendations on modification of strategy and tactics for success with the two other nations' cultures
- Make sure you reference fully and properly in Harvard style
In all cases to get good essay marks, you need to:
a) Offer an introduction.
b) Demonstrate that you can find and analyse literature.
c) Offer a critical view of the literature.
d) Offer clear conclusions.
e) Write in good essay style (no bullet points or numbered paragraphs) and reference properly and fully in Harvard style.