Leadership and culture

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MGF3681: International Management
Week 9:
Leadership
Across Cultures

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Week 8 Lecture
• In a high power distance, high uncertainty avoidance culture,
which leadership style is most applicable and why.
• Identify and differentiate three (3) different implicit leadership
styles.
• How can House’s Path Goal Theory be used in international
management.
• Identify four (4) positive and four (4) negative leadership traits
identified from the GLOBE study.

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Leadership – very very basically
• Traits - We want particular traits in a leader
– e.g. Intelligent, Good-looking, Rich
• Behaviours - Leaders behaviours are classified to the
extent to which they focus on people or performance
– e.g. Managerial Grid, Universities studies
• Contingency - Different situations call for different
leaders
– e.g. Employees, Situation, Culture
• Styles - Leaders have a particular style
– E.g. Transformational, Charismatic, Servant

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Cultural Context:Low Power
Distance and Low Uncertainty
Avoidance
Leader Type:"The Democrat"
Recommended Leadership
Styles: Supportive,
Participative, & Achievement
Example Country:Great Britain
Cultural context:High Power
Distance and Low Uncertainty
Avoidance
Leader Type: "The Master"
Recommended Leadership
Styles: Directive & Supportive
Example Country:China
Cultural Context:Low Power
Distance and High Uncertainty
Avoidance
Leader Type:" The
Professional"
Recommended Leadership
Styles: Directive, Supportive,
and Participative
Example Country:Germany
Cultural Context:High Power
Distance and High Uncertainty
Avoidance
Leader Type:"The Boss"
Recommended Leadership
Style: Directive
Example Country:France

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Germany Leadership Case Study
1. What are some of the current issues facing Germany? What
is the climate for doing business in Germany Today?
2. Are the leadership styles used by German managers really
that different from those used by the Americans?
3. Do you think the German managers are really more Theory-
X oriented than their US counterparts? Why or why not?

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If you liked this week how about
Getting on board
MGX3991 Leadership Practices and
Principles.
It is awesome.

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Essay Feedback - Paragraphs
• Have the essay question in front of you the whole time
• In the first two sentences of your paragraphs I should know
how it links to the question
• This is not Game of Thrones, I shouldn’t have to keep
guessing what is coming next
• Each paragraph should be a building block to make your
overall argument
• At the end of the paragraph ask “does this answer the
question”
• You need to do the analysis – not expect me to work out how
it all links together

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Essay Feedback - Writing
• “It’s obvious” and “widely known” that you shouldn’t say this
• Etc is too tacky, such as … is better
• Have bridging sentences
– not Idea A. Idea B. Therefore C
– more Idea A. Idea B. Idea A and B. Therefore C.
• If you Are going to have capital Letters make Sure they are
Consistent.
– e.g. Human Capital or human capital
• Organizations are in America, Organisations are in Australia
• I am officially revoking your rights to use commas
• Should you have rhetorical questions in your essay?

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Essay Feedback - Writing

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Essay Feedback - Writing
• Don’t be colloquial, mate
– e.g. “While this might seen a little weird”
• Writing needs to be professional
• In a book called “…..” – don’t do this
• There is no I, and there definitely isn't a we.
– e.g. “We will look at this” – who is this other person you worked with?
• Less Dr. Evil air quotes
– “individualism”, “make a difference”, “taco”

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Essay Feedback – Referencing Slide
• When you are talking about a theory, analyse it. There is no
point spending a paragraph just explaining a theory
• Please reference Hofstede directly
• Instead of cited in…. just go to the original source
• Don’t reference the lecture slides
• Theorists say …… (who are they?)
• Bad websites
– e.g. Big Dog Little Dog Blog
• Is this still relevant?

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Essay Feedback – Referencing Slide

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Essay Feedback – Referencing Slide
• No?
• Well things that happened in the 80’s and opinions in the 80’s
don’t reflect today
• Don’t reference the 80’s when you are talking about the
current environment
– e.g. American culture today is …. (Smith, 1985)

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Essay Feedback – Theory
• Finally – I just thought that this really needed to be clarified. I
don’t want to sound pedantic but it is something that you
really should know…..

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Essay Feedback – Theory
• Individualism doesn’t mean people from these cultures don’t
like working in teams
• It especially doesn’t mean that teamwork doesn’t work
• It especially, especially, doesn’t mean that individualistic
countries such as America, Australia and Great Brittan have
just started using teamwork to complete tasks in the last
decade
• Just thought you should know….

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Next Week
• International HRM
• Bring your textbook

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Week 9 Lecture
• Define Parent-country nationals, Host-country nationals, Third
country nations, and Flexpatriates.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using
expatriates on international assignments? Consider issues
regarding repatriation.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Ethnocentric,
Regiocentric, Polycentic, and Geocentric IHRM orientation?