Assignment
In this two-part activity, you will demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences, ethical challenges and ways to manage diversity issues.
Format: 12 pt. Times New Roman, single-spaced, 4-6 pages in length
PART 1: Describe and Compare/Contrast Two Different Cultures Describe the cultural characteristics of the country of Mexico according to the 12 categories discussed on pp 38-46 of the textbook and compare and contrast these to the culture of the United States.
Any sources you consult as part of your research for this assignment must be cited on a separate References page at the end of this assignment. You should comment on (describe and compare/contrast) the two cultures across each of the 12 cultural characteristics:
o Formality and Social Customs
o Style of Dress
o Time
o Tolerance for Conflict
o Gender Roles
o High- and Low- Context
o Individualism
o Power Distance
o Uncertainty Avoidance
o Masculinity
o Future Orientation
Once completed, address all of the following questions:1) Which cultural difference between these two cultures is likely to provide the biggest challenge when business teams from both cultures work together? And why? (See pp 38-46)2) What can you do to improve or ease challenges when communicating across these two cultures? (See pp 48-52) 3) Are there any ethical issues that might arise when doing business between these two different cultures? (See pp 47-48)
PART 2: Situation Analysis In this scenario, you are a manager of a work team in the United States. Your team is visiting a client in another country where they treat women in the workplace differently. The purpose of your visit is to deliver a presentation of findings (results) from a research project that your team performed, for a fee, for the client. Your team is composed of three employees "two men and one woman. Each team member worked on the research project. When your team has performed this same type of research project in the past for other clients, each team member (the two men and the woman) has delivered a portion of the presentation and has contributed equally to the discussion. The client has hinted that only men should deliver presentations during meetings in their country, and given the country's culture and the client's attitude, the woman on your team feels uncomfortable about the upcoming visit. Now you must decide how to proceed. Address all of the following questions:
1) As the manager of this team, which of the 6 ways of responding described on pp 47-48 (Avoiding through Collaboration) would you choose and why?
6 ways of responding: avoiding; you might refuse to do business in cultures that operate according to ethical principles different from yours. Accommodating; you could accept the different ethical systems and conform to practices fundamentally different from yours. Forcing; you could insist on doing business in a way you believe ethically proper. Educating-persuading; you could try to convince the people with whom you want to do business why your set of ethical principles is more appropriate. Negotiating-compromising; you and the other party could each give up something to negotiate a settlement. Collaboration-problem solving; you could work with the other party to confront the conflict directly and develop a mutually satisfying solution.
2) Consider the two ethical questions on pg 48 (e.g., How morally significant is this situation? Is there home culture consensus regarding the issue?) and look at the questions in the Ethical challenge box at the top of pg 47. As you think about these questions and how you would answer them, does this change how you would respond to the situation above? Why or why not? (Talk me through your thought process.)
3) What would you do or say your employee (the woman), to your entire team, and/or to the client to improve the situation?
4) What are some possible consequences that might occur after you follow your chosen response?
5) What might you do to alleviate this type of conflict in the future? Your write-up should be clear, logical and grammatically correct.