The Worldly Mindset: Culture and Globalization

1
The Worldly MindsetCulture and Globalization

• OS608
• December 6, 2006
• Fisher

2
Agenda

• Discuss corporate and national culture
• How do organizations prepare managers for
  international assignments?
• Review final exam questions and expectations

3
Opening Questions

• According to Gosling and Mintzberg, what does it
  mean to be worldly vs. global?
• Are the readings for today encouraging managers
  to be worldly or global? In what way?

4
A contradiction?

• exported overseas, a unified culture can often
  mean an imposed culture that conveys an aura of
  corporate colonialism. Begley Boyd, p. 357
• a common perspective on organizational culture
  may indeed be possible in multinational
  organizations. Denison, et al, p. 108

5
Hofstedes Cultural Model

• Original 4 factors
• Power Distance
• Individualism
• Masculinity
• Uncertainty Avoidance
• 5th dimension, long-term orientation, added later
• Comparisons between countries

Source http//www.geert-hofstede.com/
6
Corporate support of multiculturalism

• Value of strong corporate culture
• Effectiveness and efficiency?
• Ethnocentrism?
• Products vs. workplace practices
• Language use in the workplace
• Does globalization equate with adherence to US
  standards? (BB, p. 363)

7
Challenges for Expatriate Managers

• Purpose of assignment
• Generating knowledge
• Transferring knowledge
• Developing global leaders
• More than just good technical skills needed for
  success
• Adaptability, openness needed to adjust to new
  culture
• Adjustment upon return is also difficult

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What does it mean to be global-ready?

• Attitudes respect, openness, non-judgmental,
  curiosity
• Knowledge cultural awareness
• Skills listen, observe, analyze, interpret
• Desired outcomes
• Effective behavior and communication in another
  culture
• Empathy, adaptability, flexibility

Source Deardorff and Hunter (June 2006).
Educating global-ready graduates. International
Educator, 72-83.
9
Final Exam

• Answer two of the four questions
• Most have multiple parts be sure you address
  the entire question
• In each question, must use at least one assigned
  reading and at least three external sources
• Due Friday, December 15 at 3 pm

10
For Monday

• Readings on managing change
• Review section of Gosling and Mintzberg
• Read Deutschman article (Fast Company, online)