Cooperating and Communicating Across Cultures

438 Words2 Pages
Case Study - Cooperating and Communicating Across Cultures Read the Part I Case Study beginning on page 121 after Chapter 3. Write a 250-500 word paper using APA format including the following: • Identification and summary of the key organizational behavior issues evident in the case • Reflection on the identified issues along with recommendations or potential solutions to identified issues ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooperating and communicating across cultures are the key issues in this case study. Jim, an American employee, joined the German team well prepared with the knowledge of German culture and their language; however, he wasn’t expecting the length and details the meeting session went. He became increasingly impatient, and consequently lost the respect of his fellow team members by "hardly paying attention" to the process. The Germans used a three-day meeting as a way to lay the foundation for the structure of the entire product launch. By not understanding the importance of the initial meetings in the process, Jim never truly understood the way the team was working, that is by analyzing the problem, and addressing the issues then dividing the work and moving forward with the team leader checking and controlling the outcome. The German team had worked together for at least 10 years and so they knew the company procedures very well, but Jim clearly did not. A key organizational issue Jim exhibited is not showing respect for the Germans' methods and failing to align himself with the culture more rather than removing himself from the process and complaining. Fundamentally, Jim wanted to outline the problem, adjust and confer during the process but the Germans had different ideas. This was a result of different culture for doing things. Each side saw the others' method of
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