cross cultural training - china, italy, us, brazil - organizational behavior course

Cross Cultural Training

Learning how to set-up a truly global team-project.

Group 9

…but it’s often difficult to cooperate with people with different cultural

backgrounds and experiences.

Having the possibility to work with a multicultural team has many positive aspects…

• deeper knowledge of different product markets• culturally sensitive customer service • 24-hour work rotations

The goal

Do you need training? :

You need to be in a good shape to effectively go through all the stages of teams life

Do you need training?

What is this?:What is this?

What is this?:What is this?

And this?

And this?

This is our rice…

Day 1 – Ingredients of a team

Day 2 – The challenge of team working

2 sessions of one hour and a half each

•Warm up and meeting your colleagues.•Discover different cultural approaches through a series of food related activities

•Establish the basis for a sound teamworking cooperation•Acquire familiarity with tools and tips

Structure of the training:

Luìs Josè Vargas da Silva

Chen Jia Li

Around the table :

Get to know each other

Alessandro Ardenzi

Alissa Cooper

Around the table:

Three things he likes the most

1. Supporting Corinthians football team at Pacaembu

2. Spend time with his children and enjoy nature at the Parque do Ibirapuera

3. Eating Italian food in Bixiga, Sao Paulo’s Little Italy inside Belavista District

• True “Paulistano”

• Lives in the beautiful Oscar Freire area

• Everyday has lunch prepared by his wife Joana Madalena with his four children Zeca, Digo, Rui and Miloca and his mother in law Doňa Vera

Luís José Vargas da Silva

Three things she likes the most:

1. Relaxing during weekends in his house in Tuscany

2. His mother’s cuisine

3. Playing football with his children and bring them to the stadium

• Born and raised up in Rome

• Lives in Parioli, the nicest residential area of Rome, with his two children Marco and Francesco and the wife Maria

Alessandro Ardenzi

Three things she likes the most:

1. Skiing in Switzerland

2. Listening to Jazz in her favorite club Jazz Showcase in Chicago

3. Shopping at Michigan Avenue in Chicago with her friends

• Offspring of immigrates from Germany

• Lives in a beautiful apartment in downtown Chicago by herself

•Defines herself as ambitious and determined

Alissa ParkerAlissa Parker

Three things he likes the most

1. Drink tea with the whole family at a place famous for its scenery or historical relics

2. Enjoy Beijing opera with his old parents and teach Confucius and Chinese classic poem to his little child

3. Think about the long-term plan for his business unit, and for his family (especially for the only child)

• Born in Beijing while lives in Shanghai

•Has a strong sense of family and together with his wife Wang Xiao Ya, they try their best to find time to play with the only child and look up their parents.

Chen Jia Li

Some

Cultural

Differences?

Do you… know everything

about rice?(a short cultural questionnaire)

It’s one week you are staying in Brazil and you have already had rice and bean several times, but everybody keeps on preparing it for you

A) Politely refuse saying you’ve already tasted it

B) Help yourselves and praise the food

C) Help yourselves and leave part of your portion

Do you know…Brazil

Do you know…Brazil

B) Help yourselves and praise the food

Brazilians are very proud of their cultural staple because it reflects the ability of the whole country to survive even with only the basics (“Fill the stomach at cheap price”). Also rich people keep on eating it at every meal and would interpret a denial as an offense.

Do you know…Italy

A) In all Central Italy

B) In Naples

C) In Milan

Golden and soft, slight flavoured and accompanied by “Ossibuchi” (braised veal shanks) in the best tradition, you can eat this risotto…

Do you know…Italy

The “Risotto alla Milanese” (Milan style) is one of the Italian biggest culinary challenges. The timing to serve it has to be perfect because even a minute late can change the point of cooking and the dish has to be eaten before it gets cold. When eating risotto limit talking to appreciations of food rather than long conversations.

C) In Milan

A) It’s flavorless

B) The high price compared to

alternatives

C) It requires too much time to be prepared and eaten

Do you know…USA

Low in saturated fat, sugar and sodium, rice has been widely acknowledge as a good solution to U.S. Dietary problems, thus many consumers are reluctant due to..

C) It requires too much time to be prepared and

eaten

Do you know…USA

Americans are worried for their health status and looking for healthier alternatives. Thus they are unwilling to change a lifestyle that conceives cooking and eating properly just a luxury that requires too much time and effort.

A) Food come first followed by riceB) Rice accompanies foodC) Rice is not offered in formal dinners as it’s considered too poor

Do you know…CHINA

You are invited to dinner by a Chinese host in which order does food come onto the table?

Do you know…CHINA

A) Food come first followed by rice

Rice in China always come at the end of the meal and has to balance the strong flavours of main dishes and fill up the remaining hunger. When rice is served stop eating from the dishes on the table even if some food is left. Finish all is considered rude towards the hosts who might think it was not enough for you.

Birthday party:

It’s your son birthday party, the cake comes out, but….

Who gets the first

slice?

Birthday Party

China and Brazil are highly hierarchical societies, where respect for elder people is a moral imperative

Italy and U.S. are more relaxed in relationships, though the due respect is always recommended until broken the confidentiality barrier

NO cake for Dad??

Help yourself in Brazil:

In Brazil, the host asks guests to help themselves.

Help Yourself in Brazil

One should not pick up too much so that the plate cannot be completely finished. If food is left on the plate, it gives a bad impression.

Help yourself in Brazil:

In Brazil, the host asks guests to help themselves.

One should not pick up

too much so that the p

late cannot be complet

ely finished. If food is le

ft on the plate, it gives a

bad impression.

Do you think “Italian mamma” will ever allow you to decide how much to eat?

Help Yourself in Brazil

A) You warmly welcome him and share your plate of pasta with him. If it’s enough for one can be enough for two.

B) You warmly welcome him and send your wife to cook more pasta.

C) You politely tell him to come later since you are having lunch.

Italian hospitality:

You are having lunch with your family and an unexpected guest shows up. What do you do?

Italian Hospitality

Italian Hospitality

Italians are always eager to accept new members in their “circle of trust” and manifest their eagerness inviting them eating together. Everybody, anyway, has its own share of the pie, which is not willing to sacrifice to new entrants. If the food is scarce bring it more, or struggle to get yours.

It depends…

Lunchbreak in U.S.:

According to an online poll by Right Management in the US less than half of employees leave their desks to take lunch—and many skip it altogether.

Lunch Break in USA

Lunchbreak in U.S.:

According to an online poll by Right Management in the US less than half of employees leave their desks to take lunch—and many skip it altogether

“Lunch is for wimps”Gordon Gekko, Wall Street 1987

Lunch Break in USA

Sharing is caring!

Din

ing

in C

hin

a

Each country its rice:

Yang Zhou Fried Rice

Mushroom Risotto

Rice and Beans

Instant Rice

Each Country its RICE

A New

RECIPE:(Build your own food by

using the following ingredients)

A new recipe:

Instant rice

Speed, Versatility

Parmesan cheese

Genuinity, Heritage

Peas

Hope, Novelty

Sausages

Strength, Commitment

Smoked ham

Taste, Warmth

Onion

Truth, Survivance

Soy Sauce

Creativity, risk

Mushrooms

Assertiveness,

Patience

Carrot

Freshness,

Joy

A New Recipe:

A new recipe:The dish is ready!Ingredients preparation

Chop carrots and onion Grate cheesePrepare instant rice

Cooking

Stir fry carrots and onion in a large pan, add sausages and mushrooms and sprinkle some soy sauce on top. Throw the rice when the meat is cooked. Cover with parmesan cheese before serving.

Would YOU try IT?

A) Why not? I like experimenting

B)No way mixing soy sauce and parmesan

C)I would try only if somebody else does as well

DAY 2

The Challenge

of

Team-Working

Chen Jia Li

On the table :

Alessandro Ardenzi

Alissa Cooper

Director General - Ricey Brazil

Purchasing manager -Ricey China

Product manager - Ricey Italy

Marketing Country Coordinator – Ricey U.S.

On the Table:

• 5 years at Duratex, the eighth largest producer of wood panels in the world, as responsible for the São Paolo unit;

• 3 years for Trade Vision Brazil as Sales Manager • Global Management MBA at Business School São Paulo for

International Management (best MBA in Brazil)• Studied Administração General at Universidade Estadual Paulista

Director General - Ricey Brazil

Luís José Vargas da Silva

• 7 years at Finmeccanica as Project Manager• 7 years at Ambrosetti, management consulting• Ms in International Manager at St.Gallen university, Switzerland• Bachelor in business administration at Luiss University, Rome

Product manager - Ricey Italy

Alessandro Ardenzi

• Marketing manager at Ricey New England• MBA from Booth School of Business (University of Chicago)• Assistant Marketing manager for 2 years• Market analyst for 3 years in a California company• Bachelor of marketing from University of Southern California

Alissa Parker:

Marketing Country Coordinator – Ricey U.S.

Alissa Parker

• Worked 7 years for Nestle’ (China headquarter), got promotion into the Sourcing Department

• Business Management MBA at Beijing University Business School (rated amongst the top China MBAs)

• Studied Supply Chain Management at Fudan University

Chen Jia Li:

Purchasing manager – Ricey China

Chen Jia Li

Of course we

would all prefer a

FACE-to-FACE

meeting

But technology is on our side

• Application sharing enables two or more users to access a shared application or document from their respective computers simultaneously in real time

• Collaborative scheduling check schedules and propose meeting times to all of the participants.

•Online Chat AOL instant manager, Google talk, QQ, Skype, Windows Live Messenger•Web Conferencing Real time talking and sharing materials•Whiteboard allow participants to highlight items on slides or simply take side notesLost in mediation

How to be connected:

How:

Choose the BEST TOOL

according to your needs

How to be connected:

How:

Choose the BEST TOOL

according to your needs

How to be connected:

While technology can accelerate communication, meeting effectiveness and virtual

teamwork, it cannot create it.

Sounds familiar?:Sounds familiar?

•Ask questions

•Make sure the others’ opinion is respected

•Set a timeframe for each point to be discussed

•Come prepared to meetings

•Take notes

Winning Tips:

The Best TIME

for a Meeting?

Check on worldtimeserver

IT’S EASY•Up to 5 locations can be selected•If you see Green the time is right, if you see Red look for alternatives

Do you understand me?:Do you understand me?

NOTE: Click on the flags to see the related video.

A. I ignore him. I’m just in charge of my part.

B. I try my best to help him.C. I expose the problem to the rest of

the group.D. I help him only once my work is

finished.

A colleague is in trouble with a work and asks for your help. Time is limited and you already have a lot to do for your part. What do you do?

Daily Worklife Test

Two of your colleagues had a strong argument and now don’t even talk each other anymore. How do you react?

Daily worklife test::

A. I don’t want to be involved in the quarrel.

B. I organize a meeting as soon as possible.

C. I submit the problem to my boss.D. I call separately both the

colleagues and try to solve the problem.

Daily Worklife Test

A. I leave the decision to the one with most experience among my team members

B. I vote and agree to what the majority decides

C. I submit it to my boss D. I take the risk and trust the supplier in

the name of our longlasting relationship

An old date, trusted, supplier comes to you with an investment proposal, but you don’t feel sufficiently competent about the issue. What do you do?

Daily Worklife Test

Up to NOWYou

Primary objectives:– Establish norms – Select technological tools

2) Sort out the technological tools you would be more comfortable working with and be prepared to motivate (yes because I’ve already tried and work well, no because I prefer simple things)

1) Think about and come up with a list of 5 norms about intragroup behavior (e-mail in cc, answers within 3 days, 1 conference call at least every week..)

Up to You now

Some hints to be winning:Some hints to be winning

Care about

Others’ Perspective

Remove Barriers to Listening

Check

Understanding

We should meet once:We should meet once..

We should meet once:We should meet once..

…Not bad as work

destinations right?

Content of next meeting

1. Draft of 5 primary norms and 4 secondary2. Decision about technological tools3. Agenda setting with concrete deadlines

Two critical questions:

•WHEN to meet again?

•HOW to set up intragroup communication meanwhile?

In the meantime..

Thanks for your attention!

Group 9Yu Yu Gao

Yi Ling SunMarta Caccamo

Marta CenniFlavia Assogna

Wei LiuDaniele Corti

Vito Margiotta