The document discusses considerations for implementing a new retirement plan across diverse cultures in Australia, Panama, and Germany. There may be unintended consequences from any organizational change if employees do not understand the reasoning. It is important to clearly explain the change and why it is being made to ease employees. Societal expectations and desires for upward mobility will vary between the cultures but all would generally appreciate an improved retirement plan. Flexibility and valuing all employees is emphasized in Australian culture.

1. Communication & Diverse
Workplaces
Implementation of a new retirement
plan for the diverse cultures of
Australia, Panama, and Germany

2. Denying to marginalizing
• Denying to
marginalizing is a
common avoidance
method, and
marginalizing might
come into effect for the
retirement plan change.
Depending on the
added benefits
employees may feel that
not enough is being
done for them.
• People can tend to
downplay the actual
benefits to them at
times of a change, so it
may need to be spelled
out for them.

3. Home & Work Life Balance
• Home & work life
balance would likely be
the most prevalent in
the German culture.
Germans tend to be all
business and no play or
even humor when it
comes to business, so I
would imaging that they
would have the best
balance of my three
selected cultures.
• Australians tend to be very
team oriented, and want
to be seen as being a team
player so are more likely to
allow those lines to
become blurred if it
secures them that image.

4. Unintended Consequences
• Unintended
consequences can easily
come from any
organizational change
decision. Being careful
and taking any
necessary steps to
explain what the change
is and why it is being
implemented is key to
easing employees into
any change, whether
good or bad.
• When employees don’t
understand the
reasoning behind a
change they are more
reluctant to listen, and
may buck the change.
Some of the unintended
consequences that could
result from the
implementation of a
new retirement plan
could be more
understanding workers.

5. Societal Expectations & Upward
Employee Mobility
• Societal expectations
comes into play for all
three cultures. All
would be happy to see
a better retirement
plan come into play,
but may be reluctant
to accept that the plan
being implemented is
good for all.
• Upward employee
mobility is something
that would be sought
in all three chosen
cultures. Some would
be more
understanding than
others though.

6. Valuing Others & Flexibility
• Valuing others &
flexibility is commonplace
in Australian culture
where they are very team
oriented and recognize
that each person has
something to offer.
Hearing each person out
allows you to collect all the
evidence and be objective
and well informed in your
decision later.
• Knowing that you have a
good picture allows you to
be more flexible as well
and adapts to change. A
Retirement plan change
would be a good value
driven subject for
everyone to take the time
to understand, as it would
likely effect each
employee.