The Case of the Floudering Expat

The Case Of The Floundering Expatriate Management Essay

Argos Diesel Europe is experiencing cross-cultural challenges among various divisions of the company (Argos Diesel Europe, its European suppliers, local company employees and the new member - an American expatriate). The company places high priority on achieving results, and it is conscious that in order to achieve their financial targets they must become an integrated team. However, the team’s cultural diversity and lack of understanding for each others differences, demonstrates an intense friction and cohesiveness among members. Depending on the group members’ nationalities, each one has a different degree of expectation, motivation, participation and commitment.

The main factors affecting the company from becoming an efficient cross cultural integrated team include:

Lack of Open Communication among each other:

‘I tell you, Frank, they’re just going to have to join the rest of us in the postindustrial age, learn to do things the Argos way’.

No direct confrontation to discuss the real issues and what can be done to improve problems (ex: Donaldson lack of cultural awareness and the effect on the company, group perception of him) – (back talk)

Between Frank Waterhouse and Bert Donaldson (lack of communication as to what is expected from Bert, how he can better adjust to the culture, ways of solving friction between Bert and the team)

Between Frank Waterhouse and Bill Loan – lack of understanding about each others necessities and overall company performance. Bill does not want to be bothered in solving the particular issues that the Zürich office is having.

Between Bert Donaldson and his department team

Between Bert Donaldson and the company’s suppliers (as he delivered his speech, everyone in the audience was already familiar with his team-building plan)

Donaldson and Frau Schweri (manager) – if proper communication was established at the beginning Frau Schweri could have assisted in setting up the...