DLBCSIDM01 – Intercultural and Ethical Decision-Making

Task 1: Develop Guidelines for Expatriate Staff

Case description:

Your company, a medium-sized mechanical engineering business from Southern Germany, is in the process of expanding internationally and setting up a plant in Brazil (or in a country of your choice: South Africa, China, Russia), which will then serve that respective foreign market. You work in the HR (human resources) department and your task is to prepare the managers who will be going to the plant in Brazil (or to the selected country). Your company has an ethnocentric approach to filling management positions abroad. Your task is to develop a guideline to culturally prepare the managers to be sent abroad.

Task definition:

The guide should contain the following parts:

1. A cultural comparison of Germany and the country you have chosen. For this, you could use Hofstede's cultural dimensions. A corresponding comparison tool is freely available online.

2. Use Hofstede, Hall, and Rotter’s three concepts to illustrate the differences, giving one example each, so that readers (i.e., the managers about to leave) can understand the importance of the cultural differences. The examples should be connected to the work context as much as possible.

Note: When comparing the individual dimensions of Hofstede, Hall, and Rotter, special attention should be paid to those dimensions for which there are significant differences between countries. For example, you should illustrate that power distance can affect how one relates with superiors. Constructive criticism of one’s boss might be possible in a more egalitarian country, but it is difficult or even impossible in a country with stricter hierarchies.

Task 2: Company Diversity

Case description:

As a human resources manager in a company with about 2000 employees, you have the task of building diversity within the company. To this end, there are a number of discussions within your company's management circle as to whether and how this could be sensibly implemented. Please answer the following questions:

Task definition:

1. Some managers argue that it is sufficient to ensure equal treatment. What does this mean? What is the rationale behind this approach, and to what extent does it bring benefits? Additionally, provide examples of what equal treatment would mean in everyday business life.

2. Develop guidelines for diversity based on the principle of equality. Explain briefly why equality is important and the challenges it presents. Define the criteria to be taken into account and give an example of how to implement them.

Note: You are welcome to use guidelines or principles from existing companies as a model when creating the draft. Many publish their standards of diversity on their homepages.

Task 3: Ethical Principles of a Global Company

Case description:

You are an executive in a global company headquartered in Germany and responsible for, among other things, developing your company's ethical guidelines, which are to apply to all locations worldwide. Some selected principles are as follows:

Our employees actively participate in the corporate decision-making process and are therefore called upon to provide critical feedback to superiors.

Our employees are requested to report misconduct in the workplace (e.g., bullying, corruption, harassment) anonymously to our whistleblowing hotline.

We reject corruption, bribery, and favoritism as a matter of principle, which is why we do not give gifts to business partners. We also do not accept gifts from business partners.

Equal opportunity is important to us, which is why we fill positions solely on the basis of qualifications and do not discriminate based on age, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

Task definition:

You will now work on the following two aspects:

1. What are the differences between the four principles mentioned, first from the point of view of utilitarianism and, second, based on the categorical imperative? Where can these differences appear?

2. To what extent could the four principles potentially be problematic if they are to apply worldwide? Please base your answers on the four world regions mentioned in the course book and on the impact of the manifestations of Hofstede's cultural dimensions on ethical decisions. Use examples to illustrate the possible problem areas.

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