College of Business Sciences
Case Study 2
Business Communications
Nouf Salem Al Ghafli – U2816353
BUS-207-004
Date: March21,2012
1. How do changes in the demographic makeup of Sundown Bakery reflect
transformation of the larger workforce? Consider the following dimensions of
culture as you describe the impact of culture on communication within the
company: high and low context styles, individualism and collectivism, and power
distance.
Answer
The changes in the demographic makeup of Sundown Bakery precisely reflect the
transformation of the larger workforce.
In addition, Carol and Bruce hired three employees to be in charge of running the
Sundown Bakery. The three persons came from El Salvador and France respectively.
So, with an expanding business, they hired new employees to work in this company.
Recently, Sundown hired workers from seven different countries so they have
different national backgrounds and cultures which reflect transformation of the
larger workforce in the demographic makeup of the company. So we should concern
the impact of different cultures on communication.
Analysis
Large
Small
Sundown

National background. [Similar]

National background. [Different]

Culture. [Similar]

Culture. [Different]

Language. [Similar]

Language. [Different]

Education. [Similar]

Education. [Different]

Age. [Similar]

Age. [Different]
Homogeneous
Heterogeneous
Page 1 of 2
College of Business Sciences
Business Communications
BUS-207-004
Case Study 2
Nouf Salem Al Ghafli – U2816353
Date: March21,2012
2. How would you describe the early organizational culture of Sundown? How has
the culture changed as the company grew?
Answer
a. The early organizational culture of Sundown has a sociable environment in which
it was familial and friendly. Also, it has an emotional support and all the
employees are assigned only to one job.
b. As the company grew the culture has changed to be in a bureaucratic form, less
emotional support, and the employees were not allowed to participate in decision
making.
3. What advice would you give to Sundown’s management team about how to
maintain the most effective culture in the face of company’s growth?
Answer
1. We advise Sundown’s management team to spend one day per month
together outside the workplace in order to lessen the conflict within the
company.
2. We suggest that Sundown’s management team should encourage workers to
develop their skills by enrolling them into training courses in order to enhance
productivity.
Page 2 of 2