You have been hired by a Fortune 500 multinational company in Brazil, with its headquarters in Sweden and other major subsidiaries throughout the world (China, Madrid, London, South Africa, Norway, Germany, Chile, Geneva, Bangkok, Singapore, and a new branch scheduled to open in Brazil in April 2014). As an expatriate, you have been assigned to the post of senior vice president of human resources and employee relations with a salary of 195,000 euros plus a competitive benefit package with perks that includes a performance bonus-your total compensation relocation package is equal to 280,000 euros. You will spearhead the opening of this new branch in Brazil while setting in motion finding a key location where you will be required to implement and foster the following: global integration, setting performance standards for expats, defining the IHRM role across borders, identifying mergers and acquisitions, attracting, recruiting, selecting, and retaining qualified talent, training and developing global leaders, creating strategic alliances with foreign partners, transforming and defining the IHRM role on a global platform, serving as a senior advisor to the executive management team, incorporating innovative business objectives that are aligned with HR strategic goals to lead the vision and success of the organization to acquire market share, and maximizing profits within a competitive global arena.
Main Task:
Your new COO in Sweden has directed you to immediately engage and manage this new project in Brazil. You have also been mandated by your boss to write and develop a global strategic plan that will be rolled out in 6 months and subsequently adopted by all major subsidiaries in different continents.
As part of this new endeavor, your goal is to lead your organization´s future, streamline international expansions and operations, and define the role of IHRM in several countries. Your Final Exam questions mainly consist of your preparation of a global strategic plan that incorporates the following HR strategic concepts when you get ready to open this new branch in April 2014.
What international HR management challenges will you encounter in a foreign country?