Intercultural Management - the cultural differences between the U.S. and the Saudi Arabia

Résumé du document

In the international context, firms are more and more faced to labor with different culture and origins. The increasing exchanges and globalization of markets permit for the firm to know the differences in the cultures. The diversities in cultures can be an advantage or an inconvenience for the firm. Indeed, different behaviors or habits between people in the same company could be the key to success or on the contrary, the failure too. The Saudi culture is a polychromic society. Indeed, in this kind of country, the natural cycle is respected and the time is shared. People have a flexible concept of time, and they do several things at a time. They can easily change plans and activities. Contrary to the American culture, in the Saudi culture, the collectivism is more typical. The society is built on the collective interest and collective goals of the community. They live in a community and have common goals for the entire group.

Extraits

[...] An important element in this type of country is the silent and the emotions which are implied. The Saudi society has a high power distance. Indeed, the process of sharing the decisions or calling their boss with its first name is something unbelievable The sources of the misunderstanding In this part, we explain the errors committed by the American in this case which are the sources of the misunderstanding. First, Tom Bennett, explain that for him US workers are the best and the most reliable in his country. [...]

[...] It's another way to explain that you think our culture is better than the other. Often, American people evaluate the other workers with their own culture standard and believe their culture is superior to all other. The American civilization is an individualist society. Indeed, in this kind of culture the individualism is omnipresent. People don't take care about the other, only their own interest and success are important. In individualist culture the context of communication is low. The direct communication is used and nothing is implicit. [...]

[...] In United States the context of power distance is low. Indeed, lower- level members share in decision- making responsibilities and often call their superiors by their first name. The American society is a monochromic society. The most characteristic in this kind of society everything is programmed, planned and follow a specific order. The punctuality is valued and time cannot be waste. As we know, United States are the typical example for a monochromic country. Indeed, they follow a linear concept with quantifiable and tangible results. [...]

[...] Nevertheless it's not appropriate to apply the same kind of management when you are in our country with local people then when you are in a foreign country managing foreign people. You had to consider each culture and taking in count the differences between people that can affect the work. Solutions to anticipate situations in the future For future collaboration with Saudi workers, Tom BENNET should take more account the intercultural management abroad for a good start with his team. For this, it should consider several recommendations. [...]

[...] Finally, when problems occur in the future, Tom should go to the equivalent hierarchical Saudi, then the problem with people who are only concerned. Thus, not only lowering them to all employees, the Saudis will feel much more respected. Texte français original: Tout d'abord, le point le plus important est l'étude de la culture Arabe. En effet, avant le commencement de sa supervision de l'équipe Saoudienne, Tom devrait étudier leur culture, ainsi, il serait dans la capacité de créer une communication verbale et non-verbale adéquate à la culture Arabe. [...]