Cross-Cultural Training

Lesson 5: Culture in the Workplace

Lesson 5 Exercises

Consider the following situation:

You are living in a foreign country when you are approached with an investment idea. A native, who has lived outside of the country but has decided to return, has a business idea and is looking for investors. Would you like to become one of his partners? You start thinking. You’ve been looking for possible investments, this person has a background in the type of business he wants to start, plus he’s a native, so he knows the market and can cut through the red tape and get things moving. You have the money to invest and you have a business background as well so you agree.

It is decided upfront that he will have the title of President even though you have invested a bit more money than he. But that’s ok with you. Titles aren't that important anyway. It’s what you do that makes the difference. Things go quite well in the early stages of the partnership. The two of you seem to work together well. Finally production begins. Salaries are distributed. His is high, but then he does hold the title of President, you think to yourself. He tells you that you are too familiar with the workers. He doesn’t appreciate anyone taking initiative and doing anything without being told so by him. And that includes you. Finally, when you confront him about the way things are being done, he tells you that he must tell you what to do because you aren’t a native and you don’t know how things are done in his country.

However, with him in charge, things are not going well. Seeing your investment go down the drain, you start taking action. Reluctantly, he allows you to implement your plans and business starts to improve. But then, when things are going well, he starts doing things his own way again (without consulting you) and takes credit for the work you have done.

Question: What is going on here? Describe the cultural aspects that are causing you difficulties. What could you have done differently? What will you do now?

Here are two more examples of business dealings in this country.

A man opens a store with a native of the country. He is constantly there working. In fact, he is there so much, many people don’t realize that he has a partner. Business prospers. Then the partner decides that she wants it all for herself. She tries to get him thrown out of the country. When that doesn’t work, she threatens him. Finally she takes him to court and claims that he is not a partner, just an employee. There is no written contract between the two.

A man rents an old, neglected building and turns it into a successful bar. Upon seeing the man’s success, the owners try to take the building back claiming that the lease in invalid. The owner is a native, the renter is a foreigner.

Question: Based on these three cases, would you invest in this country? What do you think went wrong? Could any of these situations have been prevented? Justify your answer.

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