Create a guidebook
In this assignment, we will work on the following broad course goals:
- Understand and analyze writing as a process that includes research (especially of an audience and desired outcomes), drafting, and peer and instructor feedback.
- Understand and analyze business writing as a process that requires knowledge and use of genres.
- Apply understanding of business writing to increasingly complex business problems.
- Analyze, evaluate, and apply popular methods for researching business and culture.
- Create and evaluate one’s own original ethos and methods for writing in a cultural and business context.
Required Deliverables
The deliverables required for this project include:
- Cover letter to audience (300 words)
- Employee Guidebook (3,000 words)
- 4 cultural dimensions
- 5 pictures and descriptions
- Use of colors and graphics
- Includes 6 outside sources, 4 of which are academic.
- Design Reflection (500 words)
GUIDEBOOK ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Create a guidebook to assist employees as they prepare to move to Country X. The guidebook should focus primarily on how the country’s culture may impact communication and relationships in a work environment. The impact should be both theoretical and practical.
For example, from a theoretical standpoint, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions places the Netherlands as having a fairly low power distance index (38). This means the Dutch tend to place greater emphasis on equal power dynamics between individuals regardless of job title. When comparing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions to Erin Meyer’s 8-scale tool, with exception for a handful of countries, there appears to be a correlation between countries with a lower power distance (<50) and a higher willingness to provide direct negative feedback. Examples of countries which show this correlation include Germany, Israel, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden, to name a few.
In contrast, countries with a higher power distance index tend to provide more indirect negative feedback. Examples of such countries include Brazil, Saudi Arabia, China, Korea, and Indonesia.
Based on this evidence, from a practical standpoint, it would be in our interest to include a section which discusses the power distance index of Country X and how it relates to the practical example of providing direct or indirect feedback.
This particular example is discussed further in, “How to say ‘This is Crap’ in Different Cultures” from the Harvard Business Review.
COVER LETTER
The cover letter is the 1st document “headquarters” will see. It will also likely be the final document you will write prior to submitting. The cover letter should be in standard business letter format (link). The content of the letter introduces who you are, reminds the reader why you’re submitting a guidebook (see Project 3), and overall how the guidebook intends to benefit employees working abroad.
1. Use standard cover letter format.
2. You will need to address the letter to someone. In this fictional scenario, you could be addressing this to someone in charge of orienting new employees. Since this is fictional and you don’t know who that would be, you may use a fake name and address. For example:
Clark Kent
Executive Vice President of Human Resources
Fake Company
123 Fake Street
Urbana, Illinois 61801
Or, you could look up a real person in the company you chose to create this training material for. For example:
Fiona Cicconi
Chief People Officer
Google
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
GUIDEBOOK
The guidebook should follow a similar structure to the example guidebooks shown in Project 3 (HSBC and Cigna Global). Please keep in mind, “a similar structure” refers to the format and general organization. It does not relate to content. The content in the example guidebooks is akin to travel brochures e.g. “How to find an apartment” and “How to get a Visa.” These are not topics you will address in your guidebook.
Your guidebook will primarily focus on how to prepare employees to work in a different country, particularly how the country’s culture may impact communication and relationships in a professional environment.
The guidebook must include at least 6 sources. 4 of the 6 sources must be from an academic source.
A complete outline of the guidebook is below:
- Title page (cover)
- Table of contents (In MS Word, select “References” and “Table of Contents”. You may also search “Create table of contents in Microsoft Word” for detailed instructions.)
- Welcome
- Warm greeting and welcome
- Why the company is successful (hint: great team)
- Company purpose
- Why they should be excited about joining the company (in the new location)
- The company’s future (in the new location)
- A light-hearted closing remark to introduce the rest of the handbook
- About this guidebook
- Summary of points for Cultural Dimension 1
- Summary of points for Cultural Dimension 2
- Summary of points for Cultural Dimension 3
- Summary of points for Cultural Dimension 4
- Conclusion – why this guidebook matters
- A section for each of the 4 cultural dimensions
- Each section will have multiple sub-sections
- Each sub-section will have 1-3 paragraphs, each paragraph making a different point
- Each paragraph should begin with a point relevant to the expat employee’s concerns (Starting with what will be different in the workplace environment instead of explaining the cultural dimension)
- Consider naming sections and sub-sections general terms (Collaborative work environments instead of Masculinity vs Femininity)
- Each point is supported by research from a combination of sources (you might combine Hofstede’s ranking with survey responses with academic sources – whatever combination is necessary to convince the reader that the cultural difference 1) exists and 2) what it may look like)
- Each cultural dimension offers practical examples of how it may impact communication and/or relationships in the workplace context
- Conclusion
- Makes recommendation
- Connects different points to each other (connects different dimensions to each other, including contradictions)
- Ends on a statement of value (ex. “Just remember, when in doubt….”
- List of references
Guidebook Templates
Guidebook (Business Plan Template)
Guidebook 2 (Magazine Template)
The business plan and magazine templates offer a similar structure to a guidebook e.g. cover page, table of contents, introduction, etc. As with all templates, you are expected to remove all of the original content. A template is, by design, meant to give you a foundation in terms of general format. It is not a document for you to fill in the blank.
DESIGN REFLECTION
Separate from the guidebook is the design reflection. The design reflection is your opportunity to think about the decisions you made when putting together your guidebook. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to a reflection. It is, however, an opportunity to justify the choices you made as a writer. Questions to consider:
- Why did you choose these 4 cultural dimensions in particular?
- Why did you introduce these 4 cultural dimensions in this particular order?
- What research methods did you use? Describe in order and explain why. If you were to do this kind of work again, what would you do differently?
- What were some issues you came across while organizing the content of your guidebook?
- What choices did you make to adapt diction, information, and recommendations to your audience’s business context and business discourse community?
- Did you encounter any issues when trying to apply Hofstede (and/or Erin Meyers) to practical office situations?
FAQ
1. Do I have to use a template?
Nope. You can open a new Word doc and start from scratch. I recommend using Insert à Text Box to get started and play with format. Whether you use a template or not, as long as it is organized and professional, you’re good to go.
2. Do I have to use the same country?
You may switch to a different country if you wish but keep in mind, you’ll be starting all over in terms of research.
3. Does the guidebook focus 100% on office dynamics or can I talk about situations outside the office?
You may discuss situations outside the office if you feel it is information the employee must know when working and living abroad.
4. Can I use colors and graphics in my guidebook?
Of course! The guidebook is meant to be read by employees, so it should be engaging both in content and design!
EVALUATION
Your assignment will be evaluated based on the following objectives:
AUDIENCE:
- Cover letter, cultural guidebook, and design reflection written to different audiences with unique purposes: cover letter to the instructor in the fictional role of immediate supervisor, cultural guidebook to expat employees working in a new country for the first time, and design reflection to your instructor.
- Each document written to a different purpose: cover letter to introduce the cultural guidebook and convince the reader to distribute it to expat employees, cultural guidebook to prepare expat employees for practical workplace situations resulting in cultural differences, and design reflection to explain your specific choices when writing the cultural guidebook.
- Cover letter clearly communicates a request relevant to the reader and purpose.
- Context and content explained with reader’s knowledge and needs in mind.
- Letter opening and closing manages and is responsive to your specific relationship with the reader.
CULTURAL ANALYSIS:
- Cover letter relates cultural dimensions and cultural analysis to the good of the company.
- Selects cultural analysis concepts based on relevance to audience and purpose, either explaining terms or using general use terms instead.
- Describes context about the real-world country useful for cultural analysis as it relates to the workplace.
- Select 4 cultural dimensions to analyze based on how different the culture of the country of destination is from the country of origin of the reader.
- Cultural guidebook on a country you have not lived in or spent a great deal of time in.
- Combines qualitative (artifacts, real examples, key practices) and quantitative sources (dimension scores and rankings, surveys, scholarly research) to analyze and explain cultural differences.
- Cultural analysis combined with practical, real-world examples of how culture affects the workplace.
- Content prioritizes practical advice for adapting to a different workplace with cultural analysis supporting it (as opposed to prioritizing cultural analysis with occasional examples).
RESEARCH METHODS:
- Design reflection includes a description of the choices you made and step-by-step process you used to research and create the Project 4 cultural guidebook, including reflections on how you would do things differently if given more time.
- Methods should be written in chronological steps and should improve on the methods you described in Project 3.
- Each step should describe the method and tools you used and why.
- All research tools introduced in this course should be included somewhere in the methodological process you describe, including but not limited to: Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and key practices, at least 1 kind of survey, academic sources and databases available through the university library, cultural artifacts, and other sources available online.
- Methods impresses on the reader the thoroughness, ethicalness, and expertise of your process as a cultural researcher.
CONVENTIONS:
- Cover letter, cultural guidebook, and design reflection written in styles appropriate to the different genre conventions.
- Tone of each document should match the relationship with the reader and purpose of each document.
- Point of view of each document should match the relationship with the reader and purpose of each document.
- The cover letter should be in first and second person (I’m writing to you)
- The cultural guidebook in second person (to the expat employees) combined with either second person (we here at Google wish you the best) or third person (Google wishes you the best)
- The design reflection in first person (I chose these 4 dimensions because…).
- Integrates sources effectively, including paraphrasing, summary, direct quotes when appropriate, and citation.
- Specific data and source data is included to support claims.
- The sources of examples are cited whether they come from an article, book, blog, social media, ChatGPT, etc.
- Any text generated by AI programs is cited like any other source. Since AI programs are not reliable sources for citation, you should be the author of anything that isn’t direct research, examples, or data that you can cite from a reliable source.
- Cover letter structured with an appropriate opening, middle, and closing.
- Cultural guidebook begins with a Welcome message that makes the reader feel welcome, introduces the purpose of the guidebook, and introduces key points of interest to the reader.
- Letter opening introduces purpose of letter, manages relationships, and introduces request.
- Letter closing manages relationship and ends with a specific call-to-action unique to the situation and audience.
- Middle developed in multiple paragraphs for ease of understanding and logically leading the reader through separate points, each developed with the reader and purpose in mind.
- Cultural guidebook has separate sections with APA style levelled headings.
- Cultural guidebook visually appealing, professional-looking, and meets visual requirements of assignment.
- Writing is proofread and easy to understand.
- Submission is complete, on time, and responsive to the prompt.
Grading criteria
Your assignment will be evaluated based on the following objectives:
AUDIENCE:
- Cover letter, cultural guidebook, and design reflection written to different audiences with unique purposes: cover letter to the instructor in the fictional role of immediate supervisor, cultural guidebook to expat employees working in a new country for the first time, and design reflection to your instructor.
- Each document written to a different purpose: cover letter to introduce the cultural guidebook and convince the reader to distribute it to expat employees, cultural guidebook to prepare expat employees for practical workplace situations resulting in cultural differences, and design reflection to explain your specific choices when writing the cultural guidebook.
- Cover letter clearly communicates a request relevant to the reader and purpose.
- Context and content explained with reader’s knowledge and needs in mind.
- Letter opening and closing manages and is responsive to your specific relationship with the reader.
CULTURAL ANALYSIS:
- Cover letter relates cultural dimensions and cultural analysis to the good of the company.
- Selects cultural analysis concepts based on relevance to audience and purpose, either explaining terms or using general use terms instead.
- Describes context about the real-world country useful for cultural analysis as it relates to the workplace.
- Select 4 cultural dimensions to analyze based on how different the culture of the country of destination is from the country of origin of the reader.
- Cultural guidebook on a country you have not lived in or spent a great deal of time in.
- Combines qualitative (artifacts, real examples, key practices) and quantitative sources (dimension scores and rankings, surveys, scholarly research) to analyze and explain cultural differences.
- Cultural analysis combined with practical, real-world examples of how culture affects the workplace.
- Content prioritizes practical advice for adapting to a different workplace with cultural analysis supporting it (as opposed to prioritizing cultural analysis with occasional examples).
RESEARCH METHODS:
- Design reflection includes a description of the choices you made and step-by-step process you used to research and create the Project 4 cultural guidebook, including reflections on how you would do things differently if given more time.
- Methods should be written in chronological steps and should improve on the methods you described in Project 3.
- Each step should describe the method and tools you used and why.
- All research tools introduced in this course should be included somewhere in the methodological process you describe, including but not limited to: Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and key practices, at least 1 kind of survey, academic sources and databases available through the university library, cultural artifacts, and other sources available online.
- Methods impresses on the reader the thoroughness, ethicalness, and expertise of your process as a cultural researcher.
CONVENTIONS:
- Cover letter, cultural guidebook, and design reflection written in styles appropriate to the different genre conventions.
- Tone of each document should match the relationship with the reader and purpose of each document.
- Point of view of each document should match the relationship with the reader and purpose of each document.
- The cover letter should be in first and second person (I’m writing to you)
- The cultural guidebook in second person (to the expat employees) combined with either second person (we here at Google wish you the best) or third person (Google wishes you the best)
- The design reflection in first person (I chose these 4 dimensions because…).
- Integrates sources effectively, including paraphrasing, summary, direct quotes when appropriate, and citation.
- Specific data and source data is included to support claims.
- The sources of examples are cited whether they come from an article, book, blog, social media, ChatGPT, etc.
- Any text generated by AI programs is cited like any other source. Since AI programs are not reliable sources for citation, you should be the author of anything that isn’t direct research, examples, or data that you can cite from a reliable source.
- Cover letter structured with an appropriate opening, middle, and closing.
- Cultural guidebook begins with a Welcome message that makes the reader feel welcome, introduces the purpose of the guidebook, and introduces key points of interest to the reader.
- Letter opening introduces purpose of letter, manages relationships, and introduces request.
- Letter closing manages relationship and ends with a specific call-to-action unique to the situation and audience.
- Middle developed in multiple paragraphs for ease of understanding and logically leading the reader through separate points, each developed with the reader and purpose in mind.
- Cultural guidebook has separate sections with APA style levelled headings.
- Cultural guidebook visually appealing, professional-looking, and meets visual requirements of assignment.
- Writing is proofread and easy to understand.
- Submission is complete, on time, and responsive to the prompt.
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