Business Research: Challenges of Managing Global Teams - HI6008

This business research proposal, submitted for the HI6008 course, investigates the challenges associated with managing global teams in today's globalized business environment. The study begins with an introduction to the concept of global teamwork, highlighting the increasing prevalence of diverse teams across multinational organizations. The research outlines the project objectives, scope, and a comprehensive literature review that examines previous studies on global team management, including the impact of cultural differences, communication barriers, and the importance of effective leadership. The literature review covers topics such as the benefits of global teams, the challenges faced by managers, and strategies for improving team efficiency. The proposal aims to identify the core challenges managers face and provide insights into strategies for effective global team management. The report concludes with a summary of the findings and a list of references.

Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHOD RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Business Research Method Research Proposal
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction:................................................................................................................................2
2. Project Objective:........................................................................................................................3
3. Project Scope:..............................................................................................................................3
4. Literature Review:.......................................................................................................................4
4.1 Previous literature review:.........................................................................................................4
4.2 Overview of global teamwork:..................................................................................................5
4.3 Importance of managing global teams for operational efficiency:............................................6
4.4 Challenges of business managers while managing global team:...............................................7
4.5 Impact of global teamwork in business expansion:...................................................................9
4.6 Literature gap:..........................................................................................................................10
5. Conclusion:................................................................................................................................10
References:....................................................................................................................................12

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Topic: Challenges of Managing Global Teams
1. Introduction:
With the inception of globalization changes is witnessed in almost all areas of businesses.
Companies are addressing all these challenges associated with globalization by conducting a
reconsideration of their conventional ways of performing the responsibilities (Jones and George
2015). For that reason, many global companies are developing teams with individuals from
different geographical region. People coming from different ethnic and racial background need
to work within one roof for the fulfilment of the organizational goals and objectives. It has
created major challenges for the managers in handling all the members working within the same
team. There are several factors including language differences, communication problem,
misunderstanding and cultural differences that can have greater impact on the overall bonding of
the team. It has induced managers to identify the areas of conflict to intervene in such a way so
that it can create maximum team efficiency (Reiche, Mendenhall and Stahl 2016). Global teams
are developed to enhance the efficiency level of the organization so that it can able to achieve
sustainable growth in the market. Effective utilization of global teams can actually provide new
dimension to the overall performance level of a team. On the other hand, it can also create
several challenges within the work culture that might create adverse impact on the overall
efficiency level. This study will highlight the core challenges associated with the global teams so
that management can be ready to handle any type of unpleasant situation. This study will discuss
concepts and perspectives highlighted by several authors in order to highlight the significance of
maintaining global teams appropriately.

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2. Project Objective:
In order to evaluate the challenges associated in managing global teams, the study will
focus on following objectives:
 To provide in-depth overview about the concepts of managing global teams
 To highlight the prime reasons for the businesses to use several global teams
simultaneously
 To identify all the challenges for the managers in handling a global team efficiency
within a corporate structure
 To highlight the gap after evaluation of different previous literatures related with
handling global teams
3. Project Scope:
In the present competitive business environment, every business is looking to expand
their reach across geographical boundaries. Almost all the multinational organizations have
recruited people from all across the globe for performing all the requirements associated with the
operational procedure (Mendenhall 2012). Therefore, organizations do not have any other
options than to concentrate on utilizing of global teams. This study will have the opportunity to
evaluate the overall concepts of global teams along with proper identification of pros and cons
associated with it. The study will also have the scope to highlight several strategies initiated by
managers from different multinational organizations for fulfilling all the organizational goals and
objectives. It can also provide the best possible way to use global teams for accomplishing all
the operational responsibilities. Thus, the development of literature review section will help to
enhance the overall quality of the information provided in the research study.

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4. Literature Review:
4.1 Previous literature review:
In this specific article, “Choices, Challenges, and Career Consequences of Global Work
Experiences: A Review and Future Agenda” published by Shaffer et al. (2012), the author has
highlighted future aspects of managing global teams for achieving business goals and objectives.
The article have mentioned that the recruitment of global employees have increased at a
significant rate over the past 20 years. The study has highlighted the way individuals opt for
global careers for fulfilling their professional goals and objectives. The concept of expatriate has
become very popular in recent times, as organizations are looking to send their best employees to
perform global responsibilities. Considering the difficulty level in handling repatriation and
expatriation, many companies have concentrated on developing global skills for performing
overseas responsibilities. This study has examined the challenges, choices and consequences for
handling different types responsibilities associated with global responsibilities. For that reason,
the study has emphasized on utilizing proper training and development facilities for the
managers so that they can able to handle all the provided responsibilities in an appropriate
manner. The study has mentioned the significance of understanding different views and
perspectives of individuals coming from different geographical, cultural and educational
background at the time of developing appropriate coordination within the global team. The study
has also classified the overall global work experience of the employees in different categories so
that it can able to highlight all the challenges associated in maintain global teams for operational
efficiencies. The study has highlighted the factors like stress, identity transformation, career
transformation that can work as major internal influences to perform all their roles and
responsibilities. On the other hand, economical and political pressure is highlighted as the prime

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external factors that induce businesses to use global teams for performing all the global
responsibilities.
4.2 Overview of global teamwork:
Global teamwork refers to a group that includes people from different parts of the globe.
Thus, global team inevitably requires appropriate participation of the people from different parts
of the globe. Without the appropriate participation, it will be extremely difficult for any team to
accomplish all the necessary goals and objectives (Boussebaa, Morgan and Sturdy 2012). Due to
globalization, it has become a norm for any multinational organization to use employees from
different geographical backgrounds. However, many studies have highlighted the fact that
managers need to have in-depth skills in understanding the culture and background of the
customers in an effective way. As per the article by Daim et al. (2012), utilization of global team
will allow organizations to use cultural diversity for enhancing the efficiency level of the
operational procedure. Multinational organizations like Coles and JB HI FI often create market
research team for assessing the needs and wants of the customers. Similarly, it is essential to
utilize personal sessions with all the employees for understanding their perspectives in an
effective way. According to Erez et al. (2013) diverse group is likely to develop broad range of
ideas, expertise and knowledge, which will eventually increase the efficiency of the operational
procedure. For instance, Microsoft always focus on providing opportunities to the employees to
share their thoughts and ideas in the brain storming sessions for accomplishing all the business
goals successfully. In addition, many businesses have used outsourcing strategy for
accomplishing their operational goals. As a result, it has induced employees of an organization to
deal with employees from other countries on regular basis. Hence, utilization of proper
communication network is critical for the advance utilization of global teams.

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When employees are from different geographical and cultural background, leaders will
have to be flexible enough with their initiated strategies for accomplishing the desired goals and
objectives. Diversity in the initiated roles and responsibilities are likely to bring greater control
over managing a particular team. As stated by Kim and McLean (2012) organizations need to be
innovative with their delivery of products and services for remaining competitive in the global
market. Thus, inclusion of global teams is likely to generate idea that is more creative, thoughts
and perspectives, which will definitely increase the overall efficiency in a major way. However,
global teams can also create several challenges in performing all the provided responsibilities.
Therefore, managers will have to be extremely careful at the time of initiating strategies to
perform operational responsibilities.
4.3 Importance of managing global teams for operational efficiency:
Before assessing the challenges associated with managing global teams, it is critical to
highlight the necessity of using it. As stated by Boutellier, Gassmann and Von Zedtwitz (2013)
almost all the prime organizations across different sector have developed branches or offices in
different parts of the globe. As a result, they have to recruit people from all these countries to
perform all the responsibilities associated with the operational procedure. Utilization of global
teams has allowed organizations to develop innovative strategies and decisions for maintaining
the competitive advantage in the global market. For that reason, leaders also have to possess
enough knowledge and skills to handle employees from all possible background. As illustrated
by Zander, Mockaitis and Butler (2012) global leadership reflects a process of leading
independent people from different cultural, geographical and educational background.
Traditionally, many multinational corporations have concentrated on differentiating strategies for
maximizing the output of the team. In today’s complex business environment, majority of the

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global team management strategies aims to create proper coordination among all members of the
team.
As per the article by Bannerman, Hossain and Jeffery (2012) inclusion of different
background employees can allow organization to deal with global customers on regular basis. In
the present competitive globe, all the businesses have to deal with different customers from all
across the world. Now, utilization of global team will help organizations to understand the
perspectives of the customers in an appropriate way. As a result, it will help organizations to
create strong bonding with the customers, which will eventually create positive impact on the
loyalty level (Stahl et al. 2012). Now, maintaining the loyalty level of the customers is critical
for any business for achieving sustainable growth in the competitive market. In addition,
inclusion of global team will help organizations to understand economic and political condition
of different economies in an appropriate way (Lilian 2014). The legal guidelines are also
different for different economies, which can create challenges in performing all responsibilities
of the operational procedure. Therefore, inclusion of employees from different background is
likely to provide assistance to the organization in avoiding any type of unnecessary activities.
Thus, it has highlighted the fact that maintenance of global team is essential for achieving
continues success in the global market.
4.4 Challenges of business managers while managing global team:
Pinjani and Palvia (2013) have highlighted the fact that several challenges or obstacles
are associated with the global team. Therefore, all the managers will have to focus on identifying
all the relevant challenges in such a way so that it cannot able to create adverse impact on the
operational performances. Firstly, lack of trust between each other within the group can be

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regarded as major challenge in developing global team. As per the article by Klitmøller and
Lauring (2013), trust is essential to develop strong bonding among each other, which will
eventually reduce the possibility of unproductive conflict within the team. Mutual trust is
essential to cover all the basis of any group, which will resulted into maximum output at
workplace. In the absence of mutual trust, all the team members can shy away from each other,
which eventually resulted into adverse impact on the performances. Secondly, communication
barrier is another prime concern that global teams will have to deal with in an effective way.
People from different geographical locations will have different languages as their mother tongue
(Morgan, Paucar-Caceres and Wright 2014). Therefore, they obviously feel more comfortable in
speaking their preferred languages, which can create differentiation within the group.
Moreover, Muethel, Gehrlein and Hoegl (2012) have highlighted the fact that people
living in different locations possess different values, beliefs and perspectives. As a result, they
often choose different ways to express their thoughts and beliefs. Now, managers will have to
understand these differences at the time of initiating any strategies. Otherwise, it can create
significant amount of adverse impact on the performance level. The communication barriers also
have to include challenges associated improper understanding of non-verbal communication.
Recently, Woolworths has faced several challenges in initiating similar rule in all their branches,
which have affected the overall efficiency of the operational procedure. Several studies have
mentioned that proper understanding of non-verbal communication is essential element to
develop effective groups within the workplace. However, people from different geographical
locations often posses different body language that can create confusion within the work place.
As described by Pirkkalainen and Pawlowski (2014) cultural barriers is another prime factor that
can have major impact on the team performance level. Here, management will have to evaluate

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the cultural difference from the perspective of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, musicality
and orientation of people coming from different cultural background. Thus, development of
proper global team depends on effective minimization of these challenges for accomplishing
organizational goals and objectives.
4.5 Impact of global teamwork in business expansion:
Globalization has emerged as revolutionary concept that changed the business process
completely. It has allowed overcoming the challenges associated with conducting business in
overseas countries. Moreover, increasing reach of internet and technological advancement has
transformed the way all the activities are conducted within the operational procedure. It has
allowed businesses to maintain complex operational procedure for fulfilling all the business
goals and objectives (Galliers and Leidner 2014). However, with the inclusion of complex
operational process, every organization has focused on recruiting specialized people for all the
activities associated with the operational procedure. For instance, retail giants like Tesco and
Wal-Mart have included employees from different section of the globe so that they do not have
to sacrifice with the quality of the resources. Therefore, they had no other option than to recruit
suitable individual from all across the globe. Now, utilization of global people will allow
multinational organizations to establish its presence in the targeted market respectfully. People
from different countries will able to connect with the offered products and services
psychologically. As a result, people will tend to purchase the offered products or services on a
much more frequent manner. Taras et al. (2013) have mentioned the fact that organizations will
have to use global teams for developing strong customer service team. It is likely that diversified
workforce will able to understand the perspectives of customers from different committees in an
appropriate manner. As a result, it would increase the quality of the provided solutions.

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Therefore, it is likely to keep customers happy and satisfied with the provided quality of products
and service.
4.6 Literature gap:
The above evaluation has highlighted the fact that appropriate utilization of global teams
is essential for accomplishing all the business goals and objectives. It has mentioned the way
global teams is likely to enhance the revenue level of the organization. However, the study has
also highlighted different challenges associated with the development of global teams. However,
there is no specific ways has been developed for avoiding such challenges for the effective
fulfilment of organizational goals and objectives. The previous studies also have not considered
the way business environment has changed over the past few years in a significant manner.
Moreover, the kind of impact inclusion of indigenous people will have on the efficiency level of
a global team. Therefore, there are many scopes to conduct research activities for identifying the
best possible way to handle challenges associated with managing global teams.
5. Conclusion:
Managing of global teams has emerged as one of the prime challenges for the managers
for ensuring continues growth in the global market. Over the years, several organizations have
developed different strategies for keeping the diversified workforce happy and satisfied with the
provided roles and responsibilities. However, managers in different multinational organizations
will have to acquire different skills and knowledge for handling employees from different
geographical and cultural background for long period of time. The leaders will have to focus on
assessing the way people from different geographical region communicates with each other. It
will allow the managers to identify the best possible way to transfer information in an

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appropriate way. In addition, managers will also have to provide special attention to all the
employees so that they do not feel neglected within the workplace. Moreover, the management
will have to ensure employees from all background can have equal amount of opportunity for
career progression in order to accomplish all the goals of developing global teams.

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References:
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software development coordination challenges: A distinctive advantage?. In System Science
(HICSS), 2012 45th Hawaii International Conference on (pp. 5309-5318). IEEE.
Boussebaa, M., Morgan, G. and Sturdy, A., 2012. Constructing global firms? National,
transnational and neocolonial effects in international management consultancies. Organization
Studies, 33(4), pp.465-486.
Boutellier, R., Gassmann, O. and Von Zedtwitz, M., 2013. Managing global innovation:
uncovering the secrets of future competitiveness. Springer Science & Business Media.
Daim, T.U., Ha, A., Reutiman, S., Hughes, B., Pathak, U., Bynum, W. and Bhatla, A., 2012.
Exploring the communication breakdown in global virtual teams. International Journal of
Project Management, 30(2), pp.199-212.
Erez, M., Lisak, A., Harush, R., Glikson, E., Nouri, R. and Shokef, E., 2013. Going global:
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virtual teams. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 12(3), pp.330-355.
Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E. eds., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Jones, G. and George, J., 2015. Contemporary management. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Kim, S. and McLean, G.N., 2012. Global talent management: Necessity, challenges, and the
roles of HRD. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 14(4), pp.566-585.

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Klitmøller, A. and Lauring, J., 2013. When global virtual teams share knowledge: Media
richness, cultural difference and language commonality. Journal of World Business, 48(3),
pp.398-406.
Lilian, S.C., 2014. Virtual teams: Opportunities and challenges for e-leaders. Procedia-Social
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Shaffer, M.A., Kraimer, M.L., Chen, Y.P. and Bolino, M.C., 2012. Choices, challenges, and
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