Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Management culture training program for different country Like Bangladesh, Spain and AustraliaAs a Manager of HR department of an MNC which has operations in various continents including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Australia, America and Africa had to decide to send a team of 6 employees to Bangladesh, Spain and Australia of three different continents to oversee operations. Beforehand I have to consider designing the training program based on the differences of cultures among these three countries as to enable the team to adapt their behavior accordingly as follows:

1.1 Training program for Spain

Training Area Detail Training ContentHierarchy In Spain, most companies are still hierarchically structured, although the

old mindset is changing at high speed. For instance family-owned businesses as well as most government undertakings are run in a traditional Spanish way, i.e. with strictly separated divisions and a strong hierarchical system.

However, the strong hierarchical and bureaucratic organisational culture is changing due to a growing number of young managers educated abroad and changes in Spanish society itself. Throughout the Spanish economy, individualism is predominant in management, whereas teamwork is not so much appreciated.

Strategy In Spanish organisations, planning does not seem to be that important, mainly “because no one can predict the future.” The strategy of an organisation is the sole responsibility of the managing director or the owner of the company, who trusts more on intuition than on systematic research.

Meetings Meetings are merely held to give instructions to and exchange ideas with subordinates; making decisions or reaching consensus is not the key activity.

Spaniards are very social people. It is not uncommon to discuss matters that are rather personal, even during a first meeting with someone.

You may criticise certain Spanish customs, but do not under any circumstances say anything that might be offending their personal dignity or honour. The first meeting is generally formal and is used to get to know each other. Non-verbal communication may tell you which things are not being said out loud.

Negotiations Catalans prefer a professional negotiation style, in which bargains are not the main aim. In the South a more traditional, formal style of negotiation is appreciated, in which bargaining is cherished.

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Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Training Area Detail Training Content In general, Spaniards consider it rude to answer a request negatively.

Generally, negotiations are a process that requires time. Getting acquainted with your business partner is of great importance in order to be successful.

Decisions Despite the changes in Spanish society, decisions are still taken at senior management level, often by the senior executive alone. Likewise, a modest employee is more appreciated than an assertive employee.

Many things are currently changing within Spain, but people still prefer some clarity on who makes the decisions and who is the boss. If a subordinate has a problem, he or she will expect his or her boss to take care of it.

Time perception To understand the Spanish conception of time, one needs to know that for the Spaniards “time was created by god to meet people”. Often jokes are made about the ‘mañana’ feeling in Spain. In fact, people do make long days from 8.30/9.00 to 19.30/20.00, with a long lunch break of two hours starting at approximately 13.30.

Appointments Appointments are mandatory and should be made in advance due to busy schedules. Do not try to arrange a meeting between 12.00 and 16.00, people will be out for lunch.

Spanish people do appreciate others to be on time. However, some patience is still required.

Meeting & greeting

Greeting is an extensive ritual. Hands are shaken with everybody present. Kissing each other on both cheeks is only done between people who know each other.

Note that it is not uncommon to be interrupted while speaking. Most of the time this simply means that the person is honestly interested in what you are saying and is getting into a dialogue.

It is important that you allow sufficient time in order to let your business colleagues get to know you. If your Spanish partner is not wishing to press business, be patient and wait till the second meeting comes up.

Dress code The way you present yourself is of critical importance when dealing with Spanish business people.

Spaniards usually spend quite some time and money on their outfit and appearance.

Business dress is classic, professional and conventional. Suits usually come in dark colours, although lighter colours are not necessarily avoided.

Women wear suits too, either with skirt or trousers. There can be an emphasis on accessories and make up, yet it should never be flashy.

Wining & dining Lunch and dinner are important when doing business in Spain. They are used to getting to know people better. Spaniards rarely invite (business) friends to their home; instead they prefer to meet in a restaurant or café.

Long lunch breaks and dinners are common. Even in a business context, people generally will not start discussing business before coffee has been served. First you enjoy the food and the company and talk about anything but serious matters

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Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Training Area Detail Training ContentUse of business cards

Business cards are typically exchanged at the beginning of a meeting. They contain first name and surname, job title, but no academic titles. When presenting your card, having one side of your card translated into Spanish, generally leaves an amazingly positive impression

1.2 Australia:Training Area Detail Training ContentAustralian Business Structures

A key Australian characteristic would be egalitarianism. It is very important that people do not give the impression that they 'think they are somebody'. It is much better to be seen as a 'good bloke' or a 'good mate' than somebody who is overtly proud of themselves and their achievements.

The combination of these two factors leads Australian organisations to be fairly non-hierarchical in their structure. Little attention is paid to titles and rankings within organisations, with status being ascribed through achievement rather than organisational position - you are only as good as your last decision or action!

Thus any international organisation looking to set up operations in the country would be well advised against introducing a mirror of the hierarchical structure they may employ in the country of origin - this could lead to annoyance on the part of Australian colleagues. Similarly, do not be too surprised if Australian business contacts seem wilfully disrespectful of hierarchy when working internationally - they are not being rude, merely acting in a consistent Australian manner.

Australian Management Style

Managers are not expected to see themselves as in any way superior to their colleagues — people just have different jobs. Therefore an authoritarian style of management will be received very badly by most Australians and such an approach may provoke outright hostility.It is much better to adopt a consultative style of management which is inclusive of every person’s opinions and which encourages an open debate of ideas. Indeed, challenging the ideas of the boss in open meetings is not seen as rude or disrespectful but the sign of a fully committed, professional approach. Pragmatism is seen as a key attribute; getting the job completed quickly is more important than the niceties of protocol or hierarchy.

Communication In keeping with the Australian direct style of communication, debates between senior and junior executives may appear from the outside as confrontational and occasionally acrimonious — they rarely are. This style of interaction is merely viewed as the most effective way of attaining the end goal.

Australian managers to not remain aloof from members of their team — they usually want to be ‘one of the boys’ and be seen as ‘a good bloke’. The idea of managers only socialising with other managers would be viewed as very affected and would be likely to result in alienation.

Australian Punctuality is considered a virtue in Australia — but having said that

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Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Training Area Detail Training ContentMeetings meetings often start five or ten minutes late. In addition, it is

customary to go through a few minutes small talk before getting down to the key issues of the meeting (sport is a very common theme of these discussions.)

Australia can be classified as a ‘post-planning’ culture which means that relatively little preparation is done for meetings (with the exception of client-facing meetings). Meetings are often viewed as the forum for the open debate of an issue and that, during that open debate, a route forward will be found — this approach obviously sits well with the Australian egalitarian approach. When the route forward is agreed upon in the meeting, then a detailed work schedule will be implemented for completion after the meeting. Being 'over-prepared' for meetings can result in certain negative feelings towards those who have prepared in advance as they can be seen to be trying to dictate and force their ideas on other people.

If agendas are produced, they tend to be followed loosely. If something important arises during the open debate it will not be excluded simply because it does not occur on the agenda.

Australian Team Being seen to be a good team player is an extremely important part of the Australian psyche — to be a maverick or a loner will invariably ostracize a person from their colleagues. Creating a positive, collegiate feel in a department or project group would be seen as a key management function and ‘bonding’ sessions (often including food and drink) are actively encouraged.

It goes without saying that anyone who tries to make themselves out to be better than their colleagues does not make a good team player — nor does anyone who wishes to be successful at the expense of a colleague. A competitive edge should be directed towards the other ‘team’ (the competition) rather than being internally focused

Australian Communication Styles

Although Australia is a polyglot nation, with over 100 languages being spoken by those sections of the population who have emigrated there from all over the world, English is the official and by far the most commonly spoken language.

Australians tend to put directness before diplomacy and therefore can be considered quite blunt on occasions — especially by people from those cultures in which the majority are wary of speaking plainly for fear of creating a negative emotional impact upon the people they are talking to. Directness is cherished in Australia and failure to say what you mean and mean what you say can be mistaken for evasiveness and even hypocrisy.

It is important not to be too self-promotional when presenting to Australians. A hard sell approach can often be misconstrued as bragging and can provoke a very negative response. Remember that people do not like to make out that they are better than others — the same probably applies to products and services. A factual description of issues will be far better received than a more hyperbolic approach.

Australia is one of the very few cultures in which humour is all pervasive in business situations. Not only is humour acceptable in all situations, it is expected in all situations. Never underestimate an

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Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Training Area Detail Training ContentAustralian senior manager because he or she uses humour at what you might feel to be an inappropriate time.

First names are invariably used in all business situations in Australia. It would be very unusual to call a business contact by their surname. Similarly, educational titles play relatively little part in business situations (other than in the medical or academic worlds.)

Australian Dress Code

In corporate Australia, standard business dress is still very much the norm.

Dark suits and ties are the standard dress for management level businessmen with women wearing business suits with either skirts or trousers. (More informal attire is often preferred if doing work outside the major cities.)

Remember that, for much of the year, Australia is a very hot country – so make sure that your clothing is lightweight and cool during those periods.

Try to avoid excessive jewellery and accessories which may be viewed as too 'flashy' and therefore unprofessional.

1.3 Bangladesh

Training Area Detail Training ContentWorking practices in Bangladesh Formal behaviour is expected when conducting business in

Bangladesh.

Address your Bangladeshi counterparts as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ unless

otherwise indicated.

Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.

Only shake a woman’s hand if she offers it, otherwise it is acceptable

to nod.

In general, age dictates how people are addressed.

Structure and

hierarchy in

Bangladeshi

companies

Bangladesh is a hierarchical society where people are respected for

their age and position.

Face and self-esteem are an essential part of Bangladeshi culture,

therefore any individual criticism in business situations must be done

carefully and with sensitivity.

Within the Bangladeshi work place, senior colleagues and especially

elders are obeyed and respected. Discussions are almost always lead

by the most senior person. Final decisions rest with the highest-

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Shahriar Rawshon Theoretical Analysis

Training Area Detail Training Content

ranking executives, therefore it is important to maintain strong

relationships with senior figures in Bangladeshi business

Working

relationships in

Bangladesh

Bangladeshis are usually polite and courteous and have a welcoming

attitude towards foreigners. It is important to establish personal

relationships on a one-to-one basis and to schedule many face-to-face

meetings.

The display of affection in public is acceptable. However, negative

emotions are normally not shown.

Qualities like education, experience and leadership are valued and you

should make sure to use a person’s title and surname when

communicating with Bangladeshis.

Dress Dress is quite conservative for both men and women. For Men: conservative, dark colored suits. Wear shoes that are easy to

slip on and off if possible. For Women: conservative business suits or dresses and blouses are

appropriate. Avoid tight fitting and revealing clothing, as well sleeveless attire. Dresses should not reveal too much of the legs.

Jeans and less casual attire are not recommended for a first meeting.Titles & Business Cards

Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title or Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname.

Many people refer to one another using the surname followed by the suffix “ji”. This is used as a sign of respect.

It's best to wait to be invited before using someone's first name. Business cards are usually handed out after the initial handshake

and/or greeting. Always present and receive business cards with your right hand. It is best to treat business cards with respect so avoid folding or writing

on them.Negotiations Avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or

confrontation. Saving face and maintaining the semblance of harmony is important.

Decisions usually come from the top down and tend to take some time to be made.

Gift Giving Gifts are not usually exchanged at a first business meeting. If invited to a Bengali home, it is appropriate to bring chocolates,

pastries or sweets. Avoid bringing wine or any liquor. Gifts are not to be opened when they are received. It is best to do this

in private. It is best to give and receive gifts with the both hands.

Communication Communication style with Bengali people usually depends on the

degree of acquaintance. For a close relative or friend, you usually

speak directly. For a distant acquaintance or a professional contact, it

is more customary to speak indirectly.

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Training Area Detail Training Content

People generally avoid confrontation and being rude to one another,

so speaking indirectly helps facilitate this.

When communicating it’s often the case that people will tell you what

you want to hear in order to be polite. It’s best to be patient and see

what non-verbal actions follow the communication. One Bengali

proverb to be aware of is "face is the index of mind".

Most people show strong deference to elders and women.

MeetingsMeetings are generally led by the most senior member of staff, who sets the

agenda, content and pace of the meeting.

Meetings usually begin with friendly small talk. This may include personal

questions regarding your health and family and are used to build a rapport.

1.4 Evaluation Instructor from selected country Case study Quiz Workshop Evaluation through Written and conceptual test

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