Assignment 1: Program Implementation
Throughout the course you have examined external, internal, and cultural factors that influence the effectiveness of organizations that work in multicultural contexts. For this assignment, you will apply what you have learned to an existing case.
Use the University online library resources and the Internet for research. Select a case that involves a merger, acquisition, or a management change effort in a company that involves at least two or three cultures. You need to select a company that experienced a failure in implementation. Analyze how global and cultural factors affected the implementation of change management or integration of the management teams from the two companies across the cultures. In your analysis, focus more on the cultural factors and global issues that impact the case than the business processes. While the business aspects are important, what you need to explore is how they play out differently in the global context.
Respond to the following:
- Briefly describe the case you have selected and include the link to the article(s).
- Which factors led to a failure in program implementation in the organization you selected as a case study? What was missing? What was the root of the problem? What caused the conflict?
- What recommendations do you have for how these issues might have been avoided? What do you think should be done at this stage?
- Examine the company in the case study and determine the factors (global, political, technological, cultural, etc.) that are most relevant to a change effort in that organization. Be sure to consider both domestic and international diversity issues. To what extent do these factors apply to your own work environment?
Give reasons in support of your responses. Be sure to cite any relevant resources.
Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
By Wednesday, April 6, 2016, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Sunday, April 10, 2016, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses.
Assignment 2: Applying Best Practices—GLD Presentation
For this assignment, you will analyze a business scenario and recommend a set of strategies for an organization. You will develop a PowerPoint presentation on your recommendations.
Business Scenario: Circus Magicus Goes to Dubai
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You have been contracted by the General Manager (GM) of Circus Magicus, an entertainment enterprise that brings live performances to cities around the world. Their traveling team consists of 250 performers, a stage crew, musicians, and administrative support staff. Nearly sixty of the team performers are from China, and although the team represents people from twelve countries, eighteen different languages are spoken amongst the team members. Most of the team members speak some English, though many of the performers do not speak it very well. The group represents nearly every facet of diversity, although there is not a great deal of age or physical ability diversity (the oldest member is 45 years old). The headquarters of the company is in Seattle, Washington in the U.S. The GM’s job consists of managing the travel, production, advertising, housing, and training arrangements for the troupe. He is often working on arrangements for the next location while still managing the current production. The organization’s next assignment is to arrange a show in Dubai. As they have never performed in Dubai, they are a bit nervous. The acts in the production include men and women working and dancing closely together. The production includes music, singing, and dancing. The Helpant manager, who typically handles all the logistics (i.e., contacting the theater, shipping the stage design, and equipment) is a 24-year-old unmarried woman. The GM is a gay man and his partner is part of the troupe. The various teams in the troupe have downtime during their stay while on tour and would like to visit the sights in the country they are visiting. The local liaison for the work in Dubai is a male cousin of the Sheikh. You have worked in the Middle East before and have been successful. This particular contract is important for many reasons. If it goes well and the show sells out, it could provide you with considerable financial gains. In addition, the show’s success could lead to being invited to perform future shows in the region. Lastly, taking this contract job could also mean future contract work with the organization. As the company begins to prepare for the show in Dubai, they have asked you to help the GM by suggesting training for the administrative team, and to a lesser degree, the troupe. What factors do you consider important for them to know? What advice would you give them? You have been asked to deliver a short presentation outlining your plan. |
Directions
Using the University online library resources and the Internet for research, select at least three (3) scholarly articles different from the course readings for use in this assignment.
Develop a presentation (including detailed speaker’s notes) that covers the following:
- Determine areas for concern in the scenario presented, reflecting on what you have learned regarding best practices for GLD and factors that contribute to cross-cultural business failures. Include external global concerns as well as internal cultural issues.
- Recommend the strategies that are best suited to overcome the factors identified in step #1 and explain why. Justify your conclusions with evidence and research.
Keep in mind that these strategies should go beyond the use of assessment tools to include strategies for GL development sustainability and strategies supporting the leaders.
Your final product will be a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 5–7 slides (along with detailed speaker’s notes). You should utilize at least three (3) scholarly sources beyond the course readings in your research. Your presentation should be written in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Submit your 5–-slidse presentation in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources [slide(s) with citations should not be counted as part of the presentation]. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M6_A2.ppt.
By Sunday, April 10, 2016, deliver your assignment to the M6: Assignment 2 Dropbox.
