Managers and Cultural Diversity
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Purpose of Assignment:
SWBAT
(Student Will Be Able To)
• Suggest ways for managers to understand and
deal with cultural diversity.
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Warm Up: Job in Japan
You work for a rapidly growing company that has
decided to expand in Japan. You accept a position
there for a year to train new employees. What
adjustments and preparations would you need to
make to live and work successfully in this new
environment?
Work with your table partner to create a list of at least
five adjustments/preparations you would have to
make.
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Cultural Diversity
Age
Religion
Gender
YOU
Ethnicity
Interests
Socio
economics
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Debate and Discuss: Company Picnic
A U.S.- based international company decided it would be require a
traditional company picnic at each of its sites worldwide, since the event
was popular with the employees at the U.S. headquarters. The first
overseas company picnic was held near location of the Madrid operations.
The U.S. picnic motivated people and built teamwork. However, the
Spanish version did not go over very well with the employees. The local
workers, Spaniards, were unaccustomed to socializing with higher-ranking
employees, like managers. They also felt awkward being served by their
supervisors— many of whom were from the U.S. The Madrid employees
perceived their class and socialization standards were being violated. They
were fed food like barbeque that was unfamiliar to many of them. Games
like baseball that they were not familiar with were played. At the end of the
picnic, these employees did not feel motivated, but instead offended and
alienated from the company.
For each statement, agree or disagree and back up your opinion with at least one
support from the scenario.
Agree or Disagree:
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Autocratic Management Style
• Centralize power and
tell employees what to
do
• Takes full authority and
assumes full
responsibility
• Pros:
• Rewards are distributed
to those who comply
• Cons:
• Rules with a heavy hand
• Employees can feel
uninformed and insecure
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Participative Management Style
• Decentralize power
and share it with
employees
• Manager and
employees work
together to achieve
goals
• Pros:
• Employees feel informed
• Employees are
encouraged to share
ideas and suggestions
• Cons:
• Group decisions can
take longer
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Free-Rein Management Style
• Managers avoid the
use of power
• Employees learn on
their own and provide
their own motivation.
• Pros:
• Employees establish
their own goals
• Employees are selfdisciplined and selfmotivated
• Cons:
• Can lead to chaos in
many situations
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MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Scenario 1: You are an Operations Manager at a distribution center, and you
manage a team of natives from Venezuela who are not accustomed to
playing a role in the decision making process. You need to have a large
order put together and shipped within two days.
Management StyleSupport with two reasons-
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MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Scenario 2: You are a Sales Manager for a diverse U.S. team working on an
action plan to meet quarterly sales goals. Group members are accustomed
to collaboration and want to share their ideas.
Management StyleSupport with two reasons-
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MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Scenario 3: You are a Film Manager for a small film company and
responsible for three teams who are all working in different countries at the
same time. The teams are responsible for taking the script and creating the
movie on their own.
Management StyleSupport with two reasons-
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MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Scenario 4: You are the Logistics Manager of an international workforce
drawn from 18 countries and four continents. Every employee is highly
competent in his or her specialty. You have learned to rely on their
judgments and have not had to dictate solutions very often. You prefer
collaboration when making decisions; however, you need them made in a
timely manner.
Management StyleSupport with two reasons-
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REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. How can managers increase their sensitivity to
cultural differences among their employees?
2. How can a manager use all of the management
styles to create a productive work environment.
Answer in complete sentences and provide specific
examples for full credit.