Business Problems

In this final discussion I want to take a humorous look at one form of foreign market entry-outsourcing to India. You can of course find various articles on this topic, but let's end the class on a fun note and instead take a look at the movie Outsourced. The movie was made in 2007 and directed by John Jeffcoat. In general, students have been able to find the movie free online but the links change from time to time. At "press time" this link worked:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=why31NMoEfE

Try to watch at least the first 20 minutes. Does this movie you an idea of the challenges of entering a foreign market through outsourcing? Do the cultural differences shown in the movie seem to be consistent with what you've read about in the readings so far in the class? Do you think the director made at least a somewhat realistic movie about outsourcing to India?

If the link no longer works, see if you can find the movie online somewhere else. There is also a TV series based on the movie. See if you can find the first episode. At "press time" this link worked:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/178528

In general, the TV series should be easier to find than the movie, but it is a lot sillier, so first try to find the movie. If all else fails, try to find an article about a Westerner working in India. Your professor might also be able to find an alternative topic for this discussion.

Keep in mind that this movie relates not only to the concept of foreign-entry mode but also the concept of cross-cultural management and expatriate culture-shock that you read about in Module 1. So make sure to include references to any relevant sources from the Module 1 or

Module background readings.

For those of you who end up watching the full movie, please write a review for your classmates to help them decide whether or not they want to finish the movie (no spoilers in your reviews though...).