Managing Across Cultures

Course Roadmap  Personality II I II I  Relationships  Group u Context

2 Ways to Think About Culture  Within organizations –Beliefs, values, norms –Assessing culture –Leaders: create culture  Across countries –Global markets –Skills –Even the “best” stumble

Top 10 Rejected New Names for EuroDisney Letterman, D. (1995)  1. Ooh-La-Lame  2. Have-you-forgotten-we-saved-your-ass-in-World-War-Two-Land  3. Boutros Boutros-Goofy  4. Johnny Depp’s Hotel of Destruction  5. Beaucoup de Crap Americain  6. Gumpworld  7. La Veal de Guys in Big Smelly Costumes  8. Never-Never-Profit Land  9. El Biggo Mistako  10. Euro Disaster

Disney’s trip to Paris  Strong internal culture –“Americana” (Main Street USA) –“Cast” members  Conformity  Homogeniety  U.S.- European culture clash –Explicit culture –Implicit culture  Individualistic  American ideals

How should a company determine compensation of its employees? a) A company should take into account the size of the employee’s family. The company should be responsible for paying additional compensation for each additional family member. b) An employee should be paid on the basis of the work s/he is doing for the company. Therefore, the company does not have to take into account the employee’s family.

A boss asks his subordinate to help paint his house. The subordinate, who doesn’t feel like doing it, discusses the issue with two colleagues. Which argument do you agree with most? a) Colleague A argues: You don’t have to paint his house if you don’t feel like it. He’s your boss in the company, but outside work he has little authority. b) Colleague B argues: Despite the fact that you don’t feel like it you should paint the house anyway. He is your boss, and you can’t ignore that outside of work either.

Determining compensation Percentage of people who agree with “b”: Family size of the employee is not relevant in determining compensation. England USA Japan Italy

Painting your Boss’ House Percentage of People who agree with “a”: You don’t have to help if you don’t want to USA Netherlands Mexico China

Culture as Normal Distributions AB

Work Business Partners Merchants Family Friends Significant-Others Task Cultures “Task Cultures” Task-Focused Relationships Social-Emotional Relationships Cultural Styles

Task-Focused Relationships Social-Emotional Relationships Work Family Business Partners Friends Work Business Partners Merchants Family Friends Significant-Others Relational CulturesTask Cultures “Relational Cultures” vs. “Task Cultures” Task-Focused Relationships Social-Emotional Relationships Cultural Styles

1. Goals and expectations at work: Maintain relationships vs. Task performance The degree of overlap influences:

2. How people relate to others: Trust, collaborate and work hard for people inside your “circle” vs. Formal, contractual agreements The degree of overlap influences:

3. Beliefs about solve problems at work: The degree of overlap influences: Reaffirm ties vs. Re-focus on task; keep “personal issues” out

Course Evaluations

Exam 2  Short answer questions on course web page  12/9 Thursday 9am-10am –Sections 3, 5, 8, 9 EH 1324 –Sections 2, 7 Angell Aud C –Sections 4, 6 Angell Aud D  Review sessions –Free form Q&A –12/8 Wed 1-2:30 EH 3048 –12/8 Wed 5-6:30 EH 3048