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"Cultural Considerations in International Business"
As a prospective executive with BUMET International Inc., you were recently promoted
to Asia Pacific Rim Director for the region that includes Japan, Korea, China, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This region encompasses the most
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important production facilities for BUMET International Inc. with seven production
facilities and over 24,000 employees.
How should you alter your management style based on Hofstede's four value
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dimensions? Illustrate and reinforce your answer with any value dimensions
referred to and with practical examples.
Individualism v/s Collectivism
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I have moved from that part of world where much importance is given to individualistic
approach and people tend to make decision at their own and then those decisions were
disseminated to others but Asia pacific region cultural values are based on collectivistic
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approach and these people tend to believe in group thing and tend to negate the
individualistic approach. In order to cope to this cultural issue, I would need to engage
more people in decision making and have to give weight-age to their ideas and suggestion
before making any final decision.
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Large v/s Small power distance
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The power distance among employees is large in west as compare to this region. In west
people tend to believe that there boss is right and they follow them, even when there are
not. The participation from the employees is very less in large power distance and only
few individual have the authority to make decision and rest of them has to follow them,
however in small power distance cultures like the Asia pacific more participative
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behavior is expected and people feel the sense of ownership and belonging towards the
company. So I need to bring in more discussion and would need to encourage more
participation from employees in order to keep their motivation level up to the mark.
Strong v/s weak uncertainty avoidance
Employees with high uncertainty avoidance tend to stay with the organization for long as
compare to weak uncertainty avoidance people. Asia pacific region is comprised of
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people who are not very comfortable to face change and they tend to avoid it as much as
they can. These people are not risk taking and like to stay away from it and show great
deal of resistance towards change. The employees from low uncertainty avoidance tend
to switch from one job to other more quickly as compare to others who tend to spend
almost all their life in organization. The relationship between the employees and
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organization is very long term, so it is important to take into confidence all the employees
in order to keep their moral high, which would ultimately leads to high productivity.
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Masculinity v/s femininity
A masculinity concept is more prevailing in the Asia pacific region and these people tend
to give more dominance to males as compare to female. Assertiveness, acquisition of
money and status and achievement of visible and symbolic organization rewards are more
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inclined towards male member of the society as compare to female. The female member
of the society is not considering being good at work. However even in west the
inclination is more towards the males and people over time have been using females’
member of the organization for sexual harassments. So I need to give importance to this
culture issue as well and tend to act according to their norms and values as not to create
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any conflict between myself and employees.
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