EBusiness international project team
CIS: E-Business What is Diversity? Within a business framework, diversity, specifically in terms of physical appearance (including ethnicity, gender, color, sexual orientation, body size, and age), is seen as a strategic approach to enhance employee retention and inspire consumer trust. The commonly stated “business case for diversity” asserts that in a global and diverse market, a company whose workforce reflects the demographics of the market it serves, particularly in terms of ethnic representation and gender composition, is more likely to succeed compared to a company that does not align with the appearance of its target market. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity%28business%29 Resources: “For those who work in international business, it is sometimes amazing how different people in other cultures behave. We tend to have a human instinct that ‘deep inside’ all people are the same – but they are not. Therefore, if we go into another country and make decisions based on how we operate in our own home country – the chances are we’ll make some very bad decisions.” Geert Hofstede’s research gives us insights into other cultures so that we can be more effective when interacting with people in other national and organizational cultures. If understood and applied properly, this information should reduce your level of frustration, anxiety, and concern. But most important, Geert Hofstede will give you the ‘edge of understanding’ which translates to more successful results. The 6 Dimensions of National Culture via the Cultural Tools Country Comparison resource include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Power Distance (high vs. low) is the extent to which the less powerful members of society accept that power is distributed unequally. Individualism (Individualists vs. Collectivist): Collectivism: people belong to or are in groups (families, organizations…) who look after them in exchange for loyalty Individualism: people only look after themselves and their immediate family. Masculinity (high vs. low): Masculinity: the dominate values in society are achievement and success Femininity: the dominate values in society are caring for others and quality of life Uncertainty Avoidance (high vs. low) is the extent to which people feel threatened by uncertainty and ambiguity and try to avoid such situations Pragmatism (Pragmatic vs. Normative) is the extent to which people show a pragmatic (futureoriented) perspective rather than a normative (short-term point-of-view). Indulgence (Indulgence vs. Restraint) is the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses. Relatively weak control is referred to “Indulgence” and relatively strong control is called “Restraint”. CIS: E-Business Explore the 6D model of Professor Geert Hofstede (Cultural Dimensions): • http://geerthofstede.com/ Geert Hofstede’s Website • https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/ Country Comparison Tool • Sadly, the author passed away in Feb 2020 and some aspects of his site no longer function. If the website does not give information, you are looking for, the work around is to refer to the PDF list which is part of the Canvas Assignment for more culture indexes of each country. To-do for the student and the Scenario: Imagine yourself to be a Project Leader/Manager for a new information technology system being developed in an international firm. The project involves a team of multicultural members from different U.S. plants and a technology consulting and outsourcing firm from a specific country (you get to choose the country). The project faces challenges in communication, team coordination, and tight deadlines due to the dispersed team and lack of face-to-face interaction. You find yourself in charge of – a mission critical project with an unrealistic deadline coupled with the simple fact that none of the project team members are in the same office let alone the same state/country, your technology partner is an overseas division of your firm, and no one has ever met each other in a face-to-face situation. YOU, as the Project Manager, have been reading about how other organizations are using Web 2.0 technologies to overcome a variety of issues facing today’s employees. 1. Choose/Select a country from the separate PDF list of country/Culture Index values included with this assignment which your consulting firm will have international team members from. 2. Review the details behind EACH of the 6 Dimensions of National Culture index values and watch the sort video for each dimension using this website: • http://geerthofstede.com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6d-model-ofnational-culture/ 3. Using the content of the website listed above to translate the index score for the country that you selected then write the paper following the provided outline. CIS: E-Business Paper Format: Note: Points will be deducted if the format is not followed. • • • Write 3-4 pages clearly labeling the sub-parts of this assignment Essay MUST follow paragraph style. Please refer to the sample essay OUTLINE provided in the next 2 pages. Cite reference sites/research papers at the end of the essay. Sources of Inspiration and References • • • • Barak, “Managing Diversity: Towards a Globally Inclusive Workplace” Casison-Tansiri, “Technology at Work”, Incentive Magazine, June, 2007 Hofstede, “Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions” http://www.geert-hofstede.com/ Moran, Harris and Moran, Managing Cultural Differences: Global Leadership Strategies for the 21st Century (7th edition) Sample Paper Outline: I. II. III. IV. Overview *Obviously you need to write this LAST after II-IV! IT International Division Partner A. Pick a COUNTRY 1st then by default – that defines the CULTURE of your Information Technology Partner Firm that is a division of your own Global/International Enterprise Firm (translations they are your co-workers/fellow employees in a different division or another group of consultants) B. Using the Geert Hofstede 6 National Cultural Dimensions model, compare/contract the worker culture of us/Westerners to the worker culture of your selected country. You MUST mention ALL 6 Dimensions of National Culture indicating the degree of similarity focusing on any key differences. Identify/Select a Team “Success or Achievement” Issue A. Pick ONE issue that could impact the success or results of your project and state WHY or how it is a potential issue as it relates to the worker cultures of your project team. B. Examples: i. Ice Breaker/Team Building ii. Language iii. The Workday/Days (time zones, holidays, weekends) iv. Brainstorming v. Team Communications: Specifications, Status, Questions, Issues vi. Team Spirit/Motivation Web 2.0 Tools and Solutions to your Issue CIS: E-Business V. A. Pick a Web 2.0 Technology and explain or show HOW it can overcome the issue you identified above. B. Examples: i. Wiki’s ii. Podcast iii. Blogs iv. Social Networking Site v. Online Video’s vi. RSS (Really Simple Syndication), SMS (Short Msg Service), Web Feeds vii. Sharing via a “online game-like” application Personal/Individual Reflection Reflect on what you have researched and write about how this has changed your assumptions, preconceived ideas or beliefs about international project teams that are multi-culturally diverse.
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