Manage in a Foreign Land

Globalization is the growth in international business where we see the integration of economies throughout the world. A thorough understanding of a country’s culture will greatly facilitate globalization. Basic understanding of a country’s beliefs, language, attitude, communication styles, customs, relationships, values and work ethic are necessary in making a smooth transition of the kind this assignment refers to. This kind of cultural information is essential for developing an effective and realistic global strategy. To begin the transition, a team must be selected. It is important to select the right people for this team. We must first begin with conducting interviews. To begin the interviews, a manager may want to survey potential candidates through tools such as questionnaires, surveys and polls. This method will allow management to gain an understanding of individuals who may be interested in playing an integral role, such as team member. Some things to consider when selecting team members are potential challenges and cultural differences, which this paper will discuss further. Management may also devise a plan to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, a member may have in order to effectively determine the role one will assume on the team. In brainstorming this matter, I have come up with a few bullet points I would consider in selecting my team: * Cultural values * Passion about international relations * Knowledge of international relations * Research done by those potential team members * Poll team members from other global areas to get feedback about their experience * Pull team members from other global areas to assist with team selection * Form a team selection committee that is comprised of people who have knowledge of foreign opportunities * Select team members who are aware of events happening in South America
Starting with these points, would give me as a manager, a great lead on successfully completing the task before me.
Once my team is formed, more brainstorming would be done to get the ball rolling on this expansion. We should have determined by now the type of globalization taking place – trade, investment, franchising, licensing, etc. Knowing the type of globalization will aid us in developing an effective strategy. The overall need to strategize is due to moving abroad. We would need to consider resources and our competition. Thusly, the team would be divided to conquer each strategy.
The first thing I would do to bring my team members together to move forward with this project, would be a bonding retreat. The purpose of the bonding retreat will allow each individual to get to know one another on a more personal and professional basis. During our bonding retreat, we will also develop and breakout into our break out groups that will move this project forward. We will need to focus on formulating break out groups amongst the team that will formulate solutions to potential challenges we might face along every aspect of this transition. Some of those challenges may deal with technology, resources, competitors, meeting the demand of the new cultural, etc. So we would have to ensure that our teams are structured soundly to cover these and many other challenges. Each leader of these breakout groups must be able to apply decision making that will prove to be effective to lead each subgroup. This transition will be one that will rely on all levels of management to implement successful strategies.
It is the expectation of the leaders of this team to identify international objectives for this business operation. The question we might ask is what does South Americans intend to gain from this operation. We may also consider formulating a marketing strategy.
Let’s consider these bullet points (tools) for ensuring that our teams are structured to answer the call of making this a smooth transition: * Networking with individuals in South America to access their needs * Developing a relationship with individuals in South America who may have a buy in interest in the company * Study * Marketing strategy * Communication * Decision effectiveness
Once all of the factors for strategizing are set in place, my team and I will come together to create the timeline for completion of the transition. Establishing efficient organizational practices will greatly aid in the timely completion of this transition. With a thorough understanding of what need to be done and organizing our groups accordingly, timely completion will be successful. I think it would be incumbent upon each group to prepare individual timelines as well that will give an account of the progress being made.