For this assignment you need to demonstrate understanding of theories and research on cultures and the operating of multinational companies given the differences in cultures involved with the operations of the company. Drawing from academic theories you will also demonstrate understanding of the literature on multinationals, their policies regarding managing and leading people across cultural borders and the way individuals could be recruited and make progress by adding various cultural experiences. Take into account the way in which cultural intelligence could be beneficial for both business (companies) and their employees.
Critical analysis of theory and research
At the start you should take an academic perspective, analyse and critique the models of cultural dimensions as developed by the most influential researchers on national cultures like Hofstede and Trompenaars as tools for increased understanding of doing business in and between various cultures. You are expected to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches selected by you. Critically discuss and compare the different models and research, where you have a wide choice from authors like Hofstede, Trompenaars, but also others like Hall, Inglehart, Adler, the ‘European values’ study and the GLOBE project etc. Issues to consider are the way national cultures are addressed – in their own right or also in a universalist way comparing values and norms involved and the way perceptions are looked at as individual characteristics or the outcomes of socialisation processes. With the critical analysis you always have to consider the implications for business and the way individuals operate or could operate across cultural borders.
Multinationals and the role of expats
Your next task is to assess the policies multinationals could adopt to select the employees they need, looking at various policies of multinationals with regard to the home-country and host-countries where they operate. Possible options for HRM should be discussed in terms of recruitment, training and other activities to prepare employees for expatriate assignments. Explain, based upon articles from academic journals, how companies prepare and support expatriates and their relatives with training, the reward and other aspects of working in another country or culture.
The following should be considered:
? Explain how expatriates could be prepared on the basis of one or more relevant concepts from the course;
? How could expatriates adapt to other cultures and improve the management of organisations (e.g., cultural awareness, resolving ethical dilemmas) make managerial decisions and communicate across and between various cultures?
? What is most crucial for individuals with the ambition for an international career and what is the relevance of cultural intelligence for an expat operating across cultural borders?
? Critically evaluate this concept in terms of systematical and adequate evaluation of cultural skills of employees;
? What are the requirements for communication within and across multi-cultural teams and developing intercultural relationships?
? How can multi-cultural awareness be raised and the impact of stereotyping be decreased?
Support your reasoning with evidence from readings and relevant academic journal articles. While many relevant textbooks could be consulted, students should be most cautious about using references from the internet.
Requirements
1. Write your answers in proper academic style – particularly ensuring you use ‘third person’ narrative -, Harvard-style in-text citation and referencing with a correct list of references.
2. If you paraphrase (i.e. rewrite any materials in your own words), you must identify the original source. You must demonstrate evidence of extensive research into the topic.
3. Some useful information may be retrieved from the internet. However, work at postgraduate level of academic study should not contain material from the internet as this is unreliable in most cases and often concerns obscure information. Only in cases where websites contain reliable information students are allowed to include websites as their source of information.
4. For the individual project, utilise a sufficient number of academic-style resources (e.g. textbooks, books and journals) to support your points and try to ensure that you use no or only a small number of internet sources. Please note how many marks are allocated for academic and theoretical content.
5. For the team presentation and report, you are more likely to find also relevant information from other sources, such as sites for business and management. Consult also the general business papers like The Financial Times or The Economist. Be sure to use information from legitimate news media sites rather than from blogs, social networking sites, and other personal accounts.
6. Note that the required word limit for your assignments excludes the cover page, reference list and any footnotes or appendices.