This case study discusses the problem faced by Graham Steinberg, vice president of US based Hydro Generation, regarding staffing Brett Jones at the Dam project in Tanzania. It explores the cultural dimensions and considerations of Steinberg related to the culture of HG and Tanzania.
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INTRODUCTION This case study includes problem which is being faced by Graham Steinberg vice president of US based Hydro Generation. He is facing a problem related to staffing Brett Jones atDamprojectInTanzania.Thiscasestudyfurtherincludesculturaldimensionand consideration of Steinberg related to culture of HG and Tanzania. Problem This case Study is about Brett Jones who works for HG in its project at Tanzania. There are various reasons which make him a perfect employee for the project being carried out be company in Tanzania. This includes his qualification and experience and ability which have been shown by him at Tanzania project in initial and construction time. Even after this there are few things which raise a question for the vice president of the company whether he should return Jones on the project in Tanzania or not. In this the problem is related to their way of managing situations and their orientation for Christianity. Jones have managed very well with locals of Tanzania but he is not able and most probably do not want to work and associate himself with expatriates to Tanzania in a situation where he can help them to adjust at unfriendly environment to Tanzania. Theories The theories which can be applied in this scenario are theories of culture and cultural diversity. Most suitable theories in this are Handy's culture model and Hofestead's model of culture. Handy's Culture Model This model encompasses four types of culture, the models are power culture, role culture, task culture and person culture. Power Culture In this culture power is held be few individuals in organization. These people are those whose influence is very specific for the organization and its employees and operations (Nasaireh, Abdullah and Obeidat, 2019). HG is a multinational organization and this is why it
cannot radiate all its power from centre and is requires to delegate its power to other authorities. Role Culture In this culture organisation and its functioning is based on rules. They are highly controlled by their rules and all their work are based on their role in their organisation. Culture of organisation in case of HG is role culture. Power of individual in this is based on their role in the organisation. Task Culture In this organisation power are based on the teams which are made to address specific problem of the organisation or are made to achieve specific objective of the organisation. Person Culture In this culture all the individuals in the organisation consider themselves important and unique in the organisation (Abraham, 2019). In this power in the organisation is with its individuals. Another model which has been designed for this purpose isHofstead Model. This model is based on the different aspects of the culture. Hofstead’d Culture Model Power Distance This refers to degree of inequality which exist or which is accepted between people with or without power. In this when PDI is high means that organisation accepts distribution of power in hierarchical form and people are based on the power system (Mazloomy, Saki and Abdoli Mehrjerdi, 2018). In other form when PDI is low it means that power is shared and widely dispersed. In this context HG has low PDI and in this power is based on systems. Individualism vs. Collectivism This is the level of strength of ties that people have with others in the organisation. In this high IDV refers to weak interpersonal relationships in the organisation. On the other hand in low IDV people maintain loyalty for the group to which they belong and their associations in the organisation and at the same time group also maintain loyalty for the individual. In this
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HG can be considered at moderate level. In HG expatriates are seen having a connection with others of their organisation but in this Brett Jones does not like this. Masculinity vs. Femininity In this aspect of culture roles are divided on the basis of men and women (Pietersen, 2017). Men are required and supposed to behave in certain manner where society is masculine and where society is feminine roles are not divided on the basis of male and female and modesty in such society is perceived as virtue. Uncertainty Avoidance Index This is the level of people and how they can deal with anxiety. In those organisations where uncertainty avoidance is high people always try to control and predict everything. In such cases creativity hampers. People where this index is low people are more relax, open and inclusive. In this HG stands at moderate level as they are trying to control the situation but its extent is limited. Long vs. Short Term Orientation This refers to orientation of people and their planning. Time horizon people in organisation display are this aspect. In case planning and approach for work is long term this means that organisation is more pragmatic, modest and thrifty. In short term orientation people place more importance on principles, truth and are religious (Salim and Jalil, 2018). From the case study this is very clear that orientation of HG is long term as they are very conscious about future image of their company rather than their current problems in Tanzania. CONCLUSION On the basis of above study and discussion over case study of Jones it can be said that for an efficient employee it is very important to manage everything. This includes obeying culture of company and have friendly relations with co-workers along with job related knowledge and expertise.
RECOMMANDATION Here it is recommended that Brett Jones is very appropriate person for project in Tanzania. This is added by his knowledge in corporate matters and for African and Tanzanian culture. He can also help and assist new expatriates from Tanzania. For the problem about attitude of Jones for expatriates, in this regard company can provide some kind of assistance and training to Jones so that he can feel more valued and associated with the expatriates coming from US. Company can also train expatriates so that they do not isolate themselves from Jones who can be very helpful for them in Tanzania and they can set up in Tanzania more easily with help of Jones.
REFERANCES Books and Journals Nasaireh, M. A., Abdullah, A. H. and Obeidat, K. A., 2019. The Relationship Between Cultural Types According to Handy’s Model and Organizational Structure in Jordanian Public Universities.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES.9(1). pp.973-985. Abraham, W., 2019.The Effect of Organizational Culture on Employee Commitment. (The Case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia)(Doctoral dissertation, Addis Ababa University). Mazloomy, S., Saki, M. and Abdoli Mehrjerdi, A., 2018. The Organizational Culture Study of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences from the Viewpoint of Faculty Members Based on Hofstede Model 2015.Education Strategies in Medical Sciences.11(3). pp.12-16. Pietersen, C., 2017. Organizational culture: a foundational perspective.African Journal of Economic and Management Studies. Salim,A.N.andJalil,S.J.S.,2018.InfluenceofNationalCultureonBusiness& Organizational Culture–in Iran &.Leadership Quarterly.13(6). pp.673-704.