Making sense of culture : Cross-cultural expeditions and management practices of self-initiated expatriates in the foreign workplace

This book lies within two interdisciplinary fields which are crucial to be bridged: cross-cultural management and international human resource management. The consequences of globalization lead to a more extensive recruitment process of global talents as to fit the different work structures and competitive work environment of tomorrow. The emergence of self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) further intensify the challenges faced by multinational organizations because people are searching for better career prospects and they are willing to re-locate in order to obtain competitive salary or compensation packages. With the emergence of SIEs, multinational corporations need to acknowledge the influence of culture on management practices because the expatriates will bring their own cultural baggage and uniqueness to the company's doorsteps. By integrating both fields, this book is expected to provide a valuable understanding in order to educate SIEs on the richness of cultural behaviors and also the challenges confronted and synergies obtained culturally in the global workplace. Culture has a paramount impact on how leaders manage their colleagues and teams in the workplace. One's attitudes, values, beliefs and perceptions all matter when people work with culturally diverse colleagues. Cultural differences cannot be ignored as a work structure that thrives only in a monoculture environment is hardly in existence for multinational corporation of today. Instead, the multi-cultured environment takes priority with the soaring number of demands for global talents and workforces that need to be recruited. It is clearly established in the field of international human resources that there are increasing trends and phenomenon of burgeoning SIEs in newly occupied cosmopolitan cities in the world such as Dubai, Qatar, Jeddah, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and many others. Hence, this topic is timely because it allows the combined fields of international human resources management and cross-cultural management to offer new perspectives on strategies, challenges and advantages of the cultural journey of SIEs in light of crucial management practices such as decision making, negotiation, leadership, global teams, intercultural communications, and expatriation. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword Prelude Acknowledgments Author Section I: Understanding Culture and Self-Initiated Expatriates Chapter 1: Making Sense of Culture Blog Vignette 1.1: How It First Begins: Life as a Self- Initiated Expatriate Cultural Lessons 1.1: The Journey of Exploring the Multitudes of Culture A Roadmap of Cultural Expedition of Self-Initiated Expatriates 1.1 @Cultural Ponders: Even When You Travel, Culture Shock Is Real and Still Exists! Chapter 2: Defining Culture Blog Vignette 2.1: Cultural Nuances in the Workplace Cultural Lesson 2.1: What Is Culture? Cultural Lesson 2.2: How Does Culture Affect You? Recognising Cultural Dimensions Blog Vignette 2.2: Global Village Dubai: Finally, Here I Am! Cultural Lesson 2.3: Is Culture Diverging or Converging? Cultural Reflection 2.1: Culture, let’s define it! Cultural Reflection 2.2: Understanding cultural influence at workplace 2.1 @Cultural Ponders: We Are Equals, Aren’t We? Chapter 3: Who Is a Self-Initiated Expatriate? Blog Vignette 3.1: Relocation: The Reality and the Dream Cultural Lesson 3.1: Who Are Self-Initiated Expatriates? Blog Vignette 3.2: Experiencing the Honeymoon Stage! Cultural Lesson 3.2: Riding the U-Curve Cultural Reflection 3.1: Goodness, How Do I Begin to Prepare? Cultural Reflection 3.2: Indeed, the Honeymoon-Ing Is Over! 3.1 @Cultural Ponders: The Sensation of Being Up in the Air! 3.2 @Cultural Ponders: Honeymooning, a Short-Shrift Moment Only! Chapter 4: The Power of Cultural Reflection Blog Vignette 4.1: Knowing You, Knowing Me – Self-Reflection through Culture Cultural Lesson 4.1: Cultural Crossroads – The Value of and Need for Reflection Cultural Lesson 4.2: Cultural Reflections Using the Onion Model Cultural Lesson 4.3: Using the Cycle of Reflection to Understand the Cultural Experience Cultural Lesson 4.4: Why Is Reflection Necessary? Cultural Reflection 4.1: Silence is Powerful, Undeniably! Cultural Reflection 4.2: Recount the cultural experience 4.1 @Cultural Ponders: Sure, No Words Needed, He Knows and Understands! Section II: Cultural Impacts on Management Practices Chapter 5: Cross-Cultural Communication Blog Vignette 5.1: Mind Your Language, Please! Cultural Lesson 5.1: Communicate the Right Manner, Please Blog Vignette 5.2: Why Should It Be Different? Communicating at Home and at Work Cultural Lesson 5.2: What Did You Say? Different Cultures, Different Communication Styles Case Blog 5.1: Khor: Express It Implicitly Case Blog 5.2: Arni: An Assertive Kind of Person Case Blog 5.3: Adnan: Be Direct and Elaborate Blog Vignette 5.3: A Word of Honour Cultural Lesson 5.3: I Promise! But Do You Mean It? Case Blog 5.4: Perez: A Promised Culture Clash Case Blog 5.5: Ahmad: Insha’Allah Blog Vignette 5.4: Actions Speak Louder Than Words! Cultural Lesson 5.4: You Are Being Too Blunt, Aren.’.t You? Case Blog 5.6: Rehma: We Have to Do It ... and Say It Case Blog 5.7: John: Run, Tackle, Run, Tackle Case Blog 5.8: Mariyah: A Note to Parents Blog Vignette 5.5: Sorry, Sorry, and Sorry Cultural Lesson 5.5: The Highs and Lows of Apologies Case Blog 5.9: Dania: Habit of Apologizing Case Blog 5.10: Jaber: Cultural Influence Case Blog 5.11: Mathialagi: The Many Faces of Sorry Case Blog 5.12: Khaled: The Importance of an Apology Blog Vignette 5.6: No Matter What, I Will and Shall Not Brag! Cultural Lesson 5.6: Bragging? Is It the Way of Communicating Our Achievements? Case Blog 5.13: John: Business Lingo Case Blog 5.14: Farah: There is a Time for Everything Case Blog 5.15: Nasser: Apply Bragging When Necessary Cultural Reflection 5.1: Yeah, cultural upbringing does shapes your communication Cultural Reflection 5.2: A promise is a promise! Cultural Reflection 5.3: Context or Content? Cultural Reflection 5.4: Say sorry, when, why, and how? Cultural Reflection 5.5: Bragging: Why and when do we do it? 5.1 @Cultural Ponders: Actions Speaks Louder Than Words, So It Seems! 5.2 @Cultural Ponders: Listen, Could You Please Say It Nicely and Politely? Chapter 6: Cross-Cultural Negotiations Blog Vignette 6.1: Negotiation – It Is an Outcome! Really, Isn’t It a Process? Cultural Lesson 6.1: So, what is cross-cultural negotiation? Case Blog 6.1: Khaseefah: Negotiation Is An Art! Case Blog 6.2: Eliyah: Negotiation Is a Culturally Rooted Skill Case Blog 6.3: Kamila: Win-Win, Win-Lose, Lose-Lose, Lose-Win Case Blog 6.4: Rafeeqah: Negotiation Is Not a One-Man Show Case Blog 6.5: Anastasia: Negotiation Is a Mutual Agreement Blog Vignette 6.2: Who Is at the Other End of the Negotiation Table? Cultural Lesson 6.2: Haggling as a Tactic of Bargaining Case Blog 6.6: Rayyan: You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression Case Blog 6.7: Bahayah: Power Distance Case Blog 6.8: Sahiqa: Negotiating with Arabs Case Blog 6.9: Taiif: Who You Are Dealing With Is Crucial Case Blog 6.10: Jamal: The Diplomatic Way Case Blog 6.11: Maeena: Saying “No” Can Be Easy, Yet Difficult Case Blog 6.12: Raavi: It Is Always a Tricky Situation Case Blog 6.13: Saeedah: Zero Tolerance Blog Vignette 6.3: Pad Thai Negotiation Day: Please Give Us Extra Shrimp Cultural Lesson 6.3: Yeah, It Is the Asian Way of Negotiation! Case Blog 6.14: Jamila: A Decision-Maker and a Satisfactory Agreement Case Blog 6.15: Bahiyah: You Are Not In a Position, Are You? Case Blog 6.16: Jasha: A Mutual Understanding Case Blog 6.17: Lateefa: Perhaps Use Diplomatic and Professional Style Case Blog 6.18: Eiliyah: The Process of Bargaining Case Blog 6.19: Muna: The Final Decision-Maker Cultural Reflection 6.1: Negotiate Hard, Bargain to the Bone Cultural Reflection 6.2: You Need to Establish a Rapport! 6.1 @Cultural Ponders: Cross-Cultural Negotiation? Personality + Culture Bound? Chapter 7: Cross-Cultural Decision-Making Blog Vignette 7.1: Strange, You Don’t Make Your Own Decision? Cultural Lesson 7.1: Individualism vs. Collectivism in Decision-Making Case Blog 7.1: Farah: Fact vs. Intuition Case Blog 7.2: Abdoulla: Accepting risk Case Blog 7.3: Pauline: Respect for Elders is Key Case Blog 7.4: Leu: The Context Is Clear Blog Vignette 7.2: An Asian Way of Making Decisions Cultural Lessons 7.2: The Power of Relationship and Connection Blog Vignette 7.3: Come On, Make a Decision! Cultural Lesson 7.3: The Constraints of Decision-Making Case Blog 7.5: Rada: Business Decisions Case Blog 7.6: Salim: Team Effort Case Blog 7.7: Shania: Be Considerate Blog Vignette 7.4: A Struggle between Relationships and Power Distance When Making Decisions Cultural Lesson 7.4: Power Distance Is Accepted and Tolerated Blog Vignette 7.5: Are You a Stranger? Can I Trust You? Cultural Lesson 7.5: RECOGNIZING TRUST AND THE BOUNDARY OF PRIVACY IN GLOBAL VIRTUAL TEAMS Case Blog 7.8: Faez: Indeed, You Believe in Me! Case Blog 7.9: Choon Mooi: Trust Is Essential ... and Mutual Case Blog 7.10: Nurul: The Rollercoaster of Trust Case Blog 7.11: Rosmilawati: Be Friendly Case Blog 7.12: Albert: Willingness Is a Virtue! Blog Vignette 7.6: Should I Tell the Truth, or Not? Cultural Lesson 7.6: Respect One.’.s Private Boundary Case Blog 7.14: Kamilah: Use Intermediaries such as Email and SMS Case Blog 7.15: Noora: Just Say It Directly!. Case Blog 7.16: Junnah: Honesty Is Key Case Blog 7.17: Khaseefah: Establish Boundaries Cultural Reflection 7.1: Torn between Being a Boss and Friend Cultural Reflection 7.2: Choices and Timing When Making Decisions Cultural Reflection 7.3: To Tell or Not to Tell? Cultural Reflection 7.4: What Is It Like to Trust a Stranger in Global Virtual Teams? 7.1 @Cultural Ponders: My Pledge: Once I Say Yes, I Will Deliver! Chapter 8: Culturally Attuned Global Leaders Blog Vignette 8.1: What’s It Like to Be a Global Leader in Dubai? Cultural lesson 8.1: Moulding a Culturally Attuned Leader Case Blog 8.1: Mohammed: A Good Leader Needs to Be a Role Model Case Blog 8.2: Maleena: A Global Leader Case Blog 8.3: Michael: Charismatic Leadership Blog Vignette 8.2: Do Leaders Need Talent or Experience? Cultural Lesson 8.2: Leaders Are Not Born, but Made? Case Blog 8.4: Jaber: Focus on Human Relations Case Blog 8.5: Zahirah: It’s the Team that Leads, Not The Individual Case Blog 8.6: Jovish: Big Personality Blog Vignette 8.3: “I Order You to...” or “ I Ask You to...” Cultural Lesson 8.3: Moulding a Leader for a Culturally Oriented Environment Case Blog 8.7: Mashael: Everyone Deserves Respect! Case Blog 8.8: Lateefa: Family-Oriented Case Blog 8.9: Nasser: Effective Teamwork Blog Vignette 8.4: Yes, I Listen Since You Are the Boss! Cultural Lesson 8.4: Certainly, Cultural Intelligence Is Not an Exception! Case Blog 8.10: Valery: What Is the Effect of Personality On Leadership? Case Blog 8.11: Saad: Leaders Need to Be Moulded! Case Blog 8.12: Haitham: Good Leaders are Made, Not Born Blog Vignette 8.5: Can You Really Nurture a Culturally Attuned Leader? Cultural Lesson 8.5: Are We Culturally Competent? Case Blog 8.13: Khassefah: No Perfect Fit for a Leader Case Blog 8.14: Suraya: Ordering in a Decent Way Case Blog 8.15: Akarsh: Learn, Adapt and Keep Growing Blog Vignette 8.6: Who Is in Power? Hierarchy and Leadership Cultural Lesson 8.6: Which One Is Amenable? Hierarchical vs. Flat Structure Case Blog 8.16: Eiliyah: Learn to Be a Leader Who Is Culturally Sensitive! Case Blog 8.17: Jamila: Environment Shapes a Person, As Much As Culture Case Blog 8.18: Saaedah: Change Is Inevitable to Realize Your Dream! Cultural Reflections 8.1: How do you lead multicultural teams? Cultural Reflections 8.2: What’s your leadership style? Cultural Reflections 8.3: What does all-rounded leadership look alike? 8.1 @Cultural Ponders: Leaders, Be Authentic in Your Actions and Approaches! Section III: In Search of Global Talents with Cultural Intelligence Chapter 9: Building a Culturally Fit Expatriate Blog Vignette 9.1: Laila, You Are One Intelligent, Culturally Curious Kiddo! Cultural Lesson 9.1: What Does It Take to Be Culturally Intelligent? Cultural Lesson 9.2: The Cognitive, Affective and Behavioural (CAB) Intercultural Competency Model Cognitive Competency: Knowledge and Awareness Affective Competency: Feelings and Sensitivity Behavioural Competency: Actions, Behaviours and Solutions Cultural Lesson 9.3: The Rule of Thumb for Building Culturally Fit Self-Initiated Expatriates Cultural Lesson 9.4: Global Mind, Open Heart and Culturally Savvy Behaviours Cultural Reflection 9.1: Making sense of cultural behaviors Cultural Reflection 9.2: Conflict of cultural values 9.1 @Cultural Ponders: Perplexed and Mystified? Observe, Tolerate and Act! Chapter 10: What’s Next for Self-Initiated Expatriates? Blog Vignette 10.1: Is it Really Culture, or Personality, or Human Nature? Cultural Lesson 10.1: Crossing the Borderless World with Cultural Knowledge Blog Vignette 10.2: Yes, Undeniably, It Is the Cultural Force! Cultural Lesson 10.2: Self-Initiated Expatriates as Global Talents: Where Do We Go from Here? CULTURAL LESSON 10.3: The 3Cs of the Self-Initiated Expatriate: Culture, Change, Competencies Cultural Reflection 10.1: There Is a Gap between You and Me! Cultural Reflection 10.2: Between Work and Play? 10.1 @Cultural Ponders: Culture: I Learn, I Know, and It Does Makes Sense! References Index