Lecture 5

Question 1

In a global economy, in order to conduct an effective short-term and long-term human resource management strategy, multinational and global corporations need to create a

Answer 1

rational management system that can motivate employees to be productive and feel associated with the organization they work for.

Question 2

Multinational teams can be productive when individuals in a team are

Answer 2

wisely managed and can be motivated. Thus, business organizations should be able to create different teams based on the function and the level of internationalization.

Question 3

Multicultural study is a useful tool that helps in managing diverse workforces in different levels of organizations. (4)

Answer 3

Domestic firms (employees working for local domestic customers)

International firms (employees working in domestic business operations for foreign markets)

Multinational firms (foreign and domestic employees working in various markets)

Global firms (managing global workforce)

Question 4

Cultural orientations in four phases of organizations

Answer 4

Phase 1: The impact of multicultural-study on domestic organizations

Phase 2: The impact of multicultural study on multi-domestic markets

Phase 3: The impact of multi-cultural study on multinational organizations

Phase 4: The impact of multi-cultural studies on a global business organization

Question 5

Phase 1 The impact of multicultural-study on domestic organizations:

Answer 5

In managing business operation of domestic organizations, there is a need for limited multiculturalism. Some nations that are being highly diversified might need more multicultural awareness than others where diversity is less visible. The US domestic market can be a good example of the former where as Poland with its homogeneous populations can be associated with the later case. In a less diversified society, it is natural to observe an HR strategy that can lean towards ethnocentric approach.

Question 6

Today in countries like the US. multiculturalism has to be introduced for two main reasons:

Answer 6

a) The US workforce and consumers are multicultural.
b) For future expansion, countries such as USA, with their out-word looking for larger markets, need to prepare their future expatriates how to operate in a multicultural environment, ahead of time.

phase 1

Question 7

Phase 2: The impact of multicultural study on multi-domestic markets

Answer 7

Managing business operation in multi-domestic market (cultural adaptation is required. But managers from headquarter are preferred to managers from the host countries). The main orientation of management in such organizations is region & ethno centric, although the region & ethno centricity is not as strong as it is in the domestic market as discussed in phase 1.

Question 8

Phase 3: The impact of multi-cultural study on multinational organizations

Answer 8

Managing business operation in multinational organizations (less cultural intensity but multiculturalism is sought extensively).

Question 9

General Motors, the US auto maker industry (multinational organization) operates slightly in varying degrees in different socioeconomic background countries.

The main cultural orientation of management in such organizations is

Answer 9

polycentric.

The inclusion of host countries’ nationals in management team is crucial for business success.

phase 3

Question 10

Phase 4: The impact of multi-cultural studies on a global business organization

Answer 10

Managing business operation of global firms requires intensive knowledge of culture.

Question 11

McDonald and KFC are good examples of such organizations, but one has to understand even such firms had to conduct few changes in order to survive). McDonald in India, France and Brazil had shown some changes that were dictated by the local specific cultural needs of food consumption.

The main orientation of management in such organizations is

Answer 11

geocentric.

phase 4

Question 12

Types of Diversity in Teams

Answer 12

homogeneous groups

token groups

bicultural groups

multicultural teams

Question 13

In order to create synergistic management system, in an organization, one has to accept

Answer 13

the negative and positive impact of diversity on organization.

Question 14

One of the most important argument often discussed about diversity is

Answer 14

how to measure the impact of diversity

Question 15

At a conceptual level, diverse team in the short term, tends to be associated with

Answer 15

low productivity and high cost

Question 16

In the long run, given time and more tolerance, diversity within an organization will have a

Answer 16

positive impact.

Question 17

Cultural diversity’s impact on group performance (theoretical model)

Answer 17

In industries where output can be quantifiable, one can measure the impact of diversity to a greater extent. The following expression explains the essence of the concept:
Productivity =F(fp1 , fp2)
F=function

fp1=faulty process without diversity

fp2=faulty process with diversity
Conditions of productivity

ap = pp-fp

ap = pp-(fp1+fp2), when fp1< fp2*

ap =pp-(fp1 + fp2), when fp1 > fp2**

ap=actual productivity,

pp=potential productivity

*Diversity wouldn’t be helpful for increasing productivity

**Diversity would be helpful for increasing productivity

Question 18

Diverse groups are more __ than homogeneous groups.

Answer 18

mistrusting

Question 19

Biases toward others, who seem to be different from the main street, in developing countries is __ than in most democratic countries.

Answer 19

greater

Question 20

a saying from Middle-East explains well how diversity without appropriate management could be viewed negatively.

Answer 20

“My brother and myself against my cousin, my cousin and myself against a friend and myself and my friend against the outsider”

Question 21

Stereotyping attitude is more common among __ groups than __ groups.

Answer 21

diverse

homogeneous

Question 22

Stereotyping attitudes are attributed to

Answer 22

earlier group orientation about others

Question 23

Diverse groups need more time to interact, to

Answer 23

communicate and work effectively

Question 24

In a diverse group settings, objectives and goals of a project need to be

Answer 24

broad so that the mission can reflect the background of diversified team members.

Question 25

In culturally diverse groups, the following facts are likely to take place during the process of communication:

Answer 25

Inaccuracy
Misunderstanding
Inefficiency

Question 26

Advantages of Culturally Diverse Groups

Answer 26

diverse groups demonstrate high creativity (Watson, 1992)

beneficial for innovative tasks (Adler, 2004)

promoting numerous way of perception, interpretation and evaluation

development of divergence and convergence ideas which are conditions for organizational dynamics

Increases team efficiency and productivity

Question 27

In order to take advantage of diversity, groups should be created by taking the nature of task and time framework into consideration:

Answer 27

according to task criteria

application in time

Question 28

according to task criteria:

Answer 28

1. diverse groups are more effective in innovative tasks

2. diverse groups are less effective in routine tasks

Question 29

application in time:

Answer 29

It is natural for a group to be divergent in early stages and convergent in later stages

Question 30

Diversity performance in innovative (mental) Vs. routine (physical) tasks

Answer 30

Low Productivity = Low Diversity

High Productivity = High Diversity

Question 31

Team effectiveness in diversity

Answer 31

Early Stage = Divergence

Later Stage = Convergence

Question 32

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Members should be homogeneous in __ and heterogeneous in __.

Answer 32

ability

attitude

Question 33

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Group members should recognize

Answer 33

cultural differences

Question 34

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Diverse groups should agree on a

Answer 34

superordinate goal.

Question 35

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Equal participation of members should be

Answer 35

encouraged

Question 36

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Coordination of

Answer 36

interethnic interactive events

Question 37

Strategy of managing culturally diverse groups

Providing positive feedback, specifically to

Answer 37

minorities within an organization is beneficial for integration

Question 38

Diversity might have some visible problems that would manifest in the early stage of an organization, but given time and vision, one can conclude that

Answer 38

it is beneficial for any dynamic society.

Question 39

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But…

Answer 39

it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!