The Challenges of International Management Teams – How Different Cultures Affect Business Decisions

5358 Words22 Pages
The Challenges of International Management Teams – How Different Cultures Affect Business Decisions The Challenges of International Management Teams How Different Cultures Affect Business Decisions Eric Lynn, LCT Consultants, Nuremberg, Germany (for Corporate Resources Group, International Personnel Programme Conference Budapest, Hungary, October 7th – 9th 1998) In 1996, I was participating in a debriefing meeting with four human resources managers from a German engineering company in the process of building a high-tech manufacturing facility in England. I had just outlined some of the differences in working styles between the British, German and Austrian engineers and managers in the project that had arisen during a series of trainings for the German and Austrians involved. To my astonishment one of the managers present asked me if, in view of these differences, it was possible to ".... get the people to cooperate in any way whatsoever." The only response I was able to give was: "You have to!" Mark is a very successful small businessman from London. Due to the increase in his company's activities in Germany, he has taken up contact with the London representative office of a German bank to discuss investments and a credit line. Substantial flows of money are involved and Mark has therefore been invited to the bank's head office in Frankfurt to discuss his needs. He has never done business with German banks before. He is met at the airport by the company chauffeur and taken to the offices. Max, a foreign investment banker, greets Mark in a friendly but very formal manner. Mark is ready to spend a little time on small talk and is surprised when Max begins to ask him about his financial needs almost immediately. As the discussion progresses, neither person feels very happy. Mark is thinking: "This is a strange way to do business. He doesn't even know me; I don't

More about The Challenges of International Management Teams – How Different Cultures Affect Business Decisions

Open Document