GCO150 Cross-Cultural Management Assignment: Analysis and Solutions

This document provides solutions to a cross-cultural management assignment, addressing key concepts such as communication patterns within organizations (circle, chain, Y, wheel, and network), the distinctions between mentoring, coaching, consulting, and counseling, and the causes and resolution of organizational conflicts. It explores the differences between high-context and low-context cultures and how to overcome unconscious biases. The assignment also examines scenarios where individuals can be effective without being efficient, and vice versa, providing examples of effective communication strategies. Furthermore, it analyzes a story to highlight the importance of time management and the impact of procrastination. The document includes references and answers to class, reading, discussion, and problem-solving questions, offering a comprehensive understanding of cross-cultural management principles.

Running head: CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
Cross Cultural Management
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
Class Questions
Answer 1)
The five patterns of communication in an organization are circle, chain, Y, Wheel and
the network communication pattern. An example of circle communication pattern is an office
assistant talking to the seniors so that message can reach the leader. An example of the chain
pattern of the communication is when the management of an organization has to transmit
message to the people in lower hierarchy of organization. In wheel pattern of communication,
leader is at centre of all kinds of communication. An example of the Y pattern of the
communication exists when the leader is responsible for managing the sub-groups in an
organization (Mediate.com 2019). The network pattern of the communication lays stress on
the rules that are given by leader to the other members.
Answer 2)
The idea behind mentoring is to transmit the knowledge along with the experience
from the senior employees of an organization to the people in the lower level of organization.
The idea behind the coaching is that it helps in providing the requisite amount of knowledge
to other employees in organization. Consulting helps the employees in getting the advice
from other that helps in benefitting an organization. Counselling helps the employees in
providing effective guidance to employees. The similarity in between them lie in the fact that
they are related to the aspect of knowledge management in an organization. The difference
between mentoring and coaching is that mentoring can be said to be a long-term process
which is on the basis of trust along with the respect. Coaching takes place over short duration
of time.
Answer 3)

2CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
There are various causes of conflict within the organization like poor management
along with the inadequate training. The poor communication along with the work
environment gives rise to conflict in a company. Mediation helps in the resolving of the
cross-cultural disputes as it helps in providing the forum that creates an atmosphere that helps
the parties in gaining the understanding.
Answer 4)
High-context cultures refers to those where the rules of the communication are
transmitted with the help of the contextual elements like the body language along with the
status of a person. The information in a low-context culture is communicated with the help of
the language along with the rules (Entrepreneur.com 2019). The difference between the
high-context and the low-context culture resides in the fact that high-context culture depends
on implicit communication along with the non-verbal cues. The low-context culture on the
other hand depends on the aspect of the explicit communication.
Readings Questions
Answer 1)
The unconscious bias can be overcome that can help in the creation of greater cultural
impact in an organization. It can be removed by the creation of process that can help in
minimizing bias in hiring, succession planning along with the mentoring. The training can be
introduced in an organization that can help in the development of structures that can
minimize the bias. The creation of cross-cultural groups in an organization can help in
tracking the situations that can help in the determination of the best methods.
Answer 2)

3CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
There are certain things that are missed by an organization at the time of resolving the
conflict. The process of mediation should take into consideration the perspective of all the
parties that can help in the resolution of any kind of conflict. The effect of putting off the
conflict is that it helps the employees of a company in coming together that helps in
maximising the performance of the employees within an organization (Fastcompany.com
2019). It can help the employees in revealing the ideas that can help an organization in
earning the profits.
Discussion Questions
Answer 1)
An individual can be effective without being efficient in the event of withholding
certain information from the subordinates that can create a positive effect in an organization.
Another example can be seen in the fact when the senior manager in an organization sends
the e-mail to the employees instead of talking directly that can help in the reduction of
conflict (Irishtimes.com 2019). Another example when a person can be effective is in the
fact when the marketing department of a company manages to attract the customers without
acting in an efficient manner.
Answer 2)
An individual within the framework of an organization can act in an efficient manner
but cannot be effective in an organization. An employee in an organization working with
honesty can act in an efficient manner but cannot be effective within the framework of an
organization. A person can be efficient in carrying out the negotiations but may not be
effective within the ambit of an organization. A person can be efficient in managing the
employees but may not be effective for convincing the other employees.
Problem Solving Questions

4CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
Answer 1)
An example of a written sentence that can help in demonstrating the effectiveness of
the spoken communication when compared to that of written communication can be
manifested with the help of the following sentence:
I did not say that I hated chocolate.
There can be various kinds of meanings in relation to this sentence. It can mean that the
individual loves chocolate. It can also mean that the person detests chocolate. It can also
mean that the person loves chocolate or has a balanced opinion about chocolate. The sentence
can also suggest that the person is very much in love with the chocolates.
Answer 2)
Anne Lamott is trying to convey with the help of the story that deferring of a project
can cause an individual to get into trouble. It can make the person feel burdened at a later
point of time.
This story can be said to be related to that of Time Management Matrix as it talks
about how the effective managing of the time can help a person in the completion of a
project.
The barriers that would be overcome by the older brother in the due course of the time
relates to the fact that he would be able to overcome the hurdles with the help of the support
from the father.

5CROSS CUTURAL MANAGEMENT
References
Entrepreneur.com (2019). Forget Cultural Fit and Look for Cultural Impact. [online]
Entrepreneur. Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/332357 [Accessed 11 Jun.
2019].
Fastcompany.com (2019). Why you should stop avoiding conflict in the workplace. [online]
Fast Company. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/90325341/why-conflict-is-good-
in-the-workplace [Accessed 11 Jun. 2019].
Irishtimes.com (2019). ► VIDEO: Going, going... not quite gone, Theresa May's Brexit
delay. [online] Irishtimes.com. Available at:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/brexit/going-going-not-quite-gone-theresa-may-
sbrexit- delay-1.3833821 [Accessed 11 Jun. 2019].
Mediate.com (2019). Mediation and Culture: How different cultural backgrounds can affect
the way people negotiate and resolve disputes. [online] Mediate.com. Available at:
https://www.mediate.com/articles/sgubiniA4.cfm [Accessed 11 Jun. 2019].