Becoming A Globally Astute Business

By Author: Lance Tavares
Total Articles: 4
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The BusinessGlobalizationCycle is a comprehensive process that begins with an overall cultural awareness program (1), from which candidates are either identified or self-selected to further explore their career potential as expatriates (2). This pool of potential expatriates then participates in an assessment process that identifies their strengths and potential weaknesses. This is followed by a series of individually designed global business skill programs for each employee. These programs focus on building the skills necessary to function in the global business arena (3). Graduates of these programs make up the cadre of globally astute executives in a corporation, from whom the organization’s potential expatriates are selected—as well as members of the organization’s intercultural teamsand managers of short-term assignments around the world. When the assignment is complete and a repatriation program is conducted (4), the repatriated employee and family can continue to support the company’s continuing globalization effort by participating ...
... in ongoing global awareness programs. Part of the repatriation effort is intended to allow them to contribute their international expertise to the growing pool of knowledge in the corporation’s global awareness program. At that point, the cycle is complete.
When companies use the Business Globalization Cycle, the dividends are enormous. Suddenly, when a manager is needed quickly in Singapore, there is a pool of qualified candidates who can be tapped. The candidate selected should still participate in a country- specific cross-cultural program together with other members of the family (discussed in further detail below).
Here are the components of the Global Awareness Cycle:
1. Introduce awareness programs to the total corporate body so that employees think about the process well before they consider becoming expatriates.
2. Identify the characteristics of a successful expatriate and high potential performers.
3. Identify individuals within the corporation who may fit the profile.
4. Create an effective repatriation process to enhance global awareness within the organization and provide a role model to potential expatriates.
Global awareness programs can last anywhere from one day to several weeks. All programs focus on providing participants with a complete understanding of how culture impacts lives and creates a set of values; how cultures are different; and how some of those differences manifest themselves. The program focuses on developing inter-cultural fluency and a comprehensive appreciation of cultural differences. The objective is to enable participants to recognize cultural differences and develop general guidelines on how to modify behavior and appropriately address culturally based challenges.
In its most basic form, a global awareness program provides participants with greater cultural understanding and new skills for operating more effectively. It also helps participants understand the overall global strategy and the importance and role of the global market in the growth of the company. A typical program might instruct candidates how to:
• Appreciate cultural diversity.
• Recognize the impact of culture on business.
• Master global management skills.
• Understand how culture impacts business issues.
• Impart knowledge about challenges faced by business people around the world, including significant concerns and motivations of business people.
• Develop a framework for understanding cultural differences.
• Master strategies for cross-cultural problem-solving and negotiation skills.
• Learn decision-making strategies that work across cultures.
• Explore ways to build business relationships.
A more in-depth version would also focus on global leadership skills, managing a multicultural workforce, and functioning on an intercultural team.
Look for more on developing the fundamentals to build a globally astute workforce and the qualities to seek in potential expatriates and their families.