Country to work - Russia

In this discussion let's focus on how human resource management and worldwide labor conditions impact businesses operating in the international environment. Effective managers for ICs are in high demand but short supply. One expert on China says sending someone to China with Chinese language capability but without "Chinese values" can be worse than sending a Westerner without those values.

International companies without effective human resource policies will find themselves failing to execute in the international marketplace. Complicating issues that HR managers face is the trailing spouse who may also have a career and a family whose members are leaving their friends. Compensation, support, and repatriation are among the expatriate issues addressed in IHRM.

For this week's discussion assignment:

The term "rapidly developing economies" is being used to denote emerging markets such as The United Arab Emirates, Chile, and Malaysia that are undergoing rapid growth.

In recent years, new terms have emerged to describe the largest developing countries such as BRIC that stands for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, along with BRICET (BRIC + Eastern Europe and Turkey), BRICS (BRIC + South Africa), BRICM (BRIC + Mexico), MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey), Next Eleven (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam) and CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa). These countries do not share any common agenda, but some experts believe that they are enjoying an increasing role in the world economy and on political platforms.

Virgin Atlantic Airline's current international offices are located in Norwalk, Johannesburg, Barbados, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Greater Delhi, Lagos, and Dubai. Please note, that Virgin Atlantic, already has offices in locations considered emerging markets.

They would like to open a new office on one of the following emerging countries to better serve customers, create new business and expand their flight routes:

Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Chile, Malaysia, Egypt, Colombia, South Korea, Argentina, Russia, Mexico, or Turkey.

Executive Planet provides information for traveling managers and expatriates on how to live and do business in various countries.

Suppose that you work for Virgin Atlantic, and you have been assigned to work in New Market Development Project for Virgin Atlantic, as they explore new locations for an office in an emerging market (see assigned market below).

You need to learn how to be effective in dealing with customers and colleagues in the chosen country.

Select four topics (such as making appointments, business conversation, negotiation/making deals, business dress guidelines, or gift giving) and prepare an executive summary on how to behave regarding the topics you selected for your assigned country.

Besides this cultural overview of your assigned country, your executive summary to the Top Management, needs to include an evaluation of the country as a possible location for the new office.

Identify the city you recommend the office to be located, discuss:

Do you think this country is a good location to generate new business? Why or why not?, etc. Justify your position, use resources to provide support to your evaluation and assessment of the location.

NOTE: You are not working with Virgin Cargo Airlines - your focus is on Virgin Atlantic.

Resources:

- You can find Executive Planet online via global EDGETM or by visiting the site.

- Cultural Detective:

- Cultural Analysis Study Toolkit (Focus on Study Abroad, but can be useful)

- Cultural Analysis Tool (Focus on Aboriginal Cultures):

- Hofstede's Cultural Tool