A post , derived from a book called Conquering the American Market, on the distinction between French and American management styles divulges issues we like to discuss on the CultureWizard blog. The entrance of French companies into the US market and vice versa entails not only technical prerequisites, but “people skills” too. I would recommend reading this article, as it includes complex anecdotes about the dynamics of the combined teams. In several cases, French managers in the US had to be repatriated, as their American counterparts refused to work with them because of their perceived arrogance. This was explained to be a result of the “elitist French school system” that did not prepare individuals for “market-based management methods”. Incongruity was the name of the game, in other words.

This also ties into the post below on cultural obstacles to offshoring. Transplanting work and people from one culture into another is not simple substitution.

This post, on Business Blog Consulting, delves deeper into this commonly encountered challenge by using India as an example. Since technical qualification is clearly not sufficient for successful offshore projects, culture must be addressed by managers of offshore vendors and their clients. Cultural differences will not disappear, but the adaptation of one’s understanding to foreign cultural frameworks can aid cross-cultural challenges.

A press release survey conducted by Korn/Ferry International has uncovered an increased willingness of business executives to relocate globally in 2009 to find the best jobs.

The survey found 85% of respondents anticipate higher unemployment around the world in 2009. “Given the perceived volatility in the labor market, executives report an extreme willingness to chase job opportunities around the world; a surprising 84 percent of executives say they are willing to consider relocating, with 55 percent willing to move internationally for their next position.” What staggering news!

Trevor Gay, creator of Simplicity, a literary blog, and author of Simplicity is Key, “highly” recommends Charlene Solomon and Michael Schell’s book, Managing Across Cultures.

“For anyone whose work involves understanding cultural diversity and the nuances of different cultures (by the way – that means ALL of us) I recommend with great enthusiasm a book I’ve just finished reading; Managing Across Cultures: The Seven Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset.”

Simplicity was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Leadership Blogs” by Best Universities.com in February 2009. Click here to read his full recommendation.

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Find links to CultureWizard Digest issues 1 through 16 below.

Issue #16: July 29, 2009

* The New Golden Rule in Global Management
* Secretary of State Clinton in India
* “Cuban Days: The Inscrutable Nation”
* A Cultural Test in Exchange for Residency
* CultureLinks
+ Doctor and Patient Culture Gap
+ The Complexities of Chinese Culture
+ J-Berg: Cheapest City for Expats
* CultureTips
+ Israel
+ Honduras

Issue #15: June 30, 2009

* Why Cultural Fluency Now?
* Twitter is Key in News on Elections in Iran
* President Obama’s Speech in Cairo
* Hummer in China
* CultureLinks
+ BBC Eliminates Vulgarities
+ New Media Literacies
+ US Influence on Iraqi Lexicon
* CultureTips
+ Iran
+ Japan
+ Organization: Efficient or Chaotic?

Issue #14: May 28, 2009

* What Makes Fiat Think that it Can Succeed Where Daimler Failed?
* India’s Elections
* Sriracha: Multicultural Hotsauce
* Promoting Mandarin in Singapore
* CultureLinks
+ Russian Firm Invests $200M in Facebook
+ Culture in DNA
+ Learning Beyond Borders
* CultureTips
+ Dominican Republic
+ Slovenia
+ LinkedIn

Issue #13:April 29, 2009

* Surgical Masks as a Cultural Indicator
* Disney Teaches English in China
* Addressing Cultural Diversity
* Bahrain Embraces its Minorities
* CultureLinks
+ First Lady Michelle Obama, Cultural Faux Pas?
+ Decorum in the Emirates
+ Japan’s Fickle Immigration Policies
* CultureTips
+ Brazil
+ France
+ Twitter

Issue #12:March 31, 2009

* Slum Tourism: Would You?
* Bollywood & Hollywood
* Repatriate or Stay Abroad
* Global Mindset M.B.A.
* CultureLinks
+ Crosswalk Culture
+ Erroneous Cartography
+ Cross-Cultural Nursing
* CultureTips
+ Nigeria
+ Relocating to UK
+ Repatriation & Reverse Culture Shock

Issue #11: February 27, 2009

* Working Virtually
* “Cultural Synergetic Intelligence”
* Growing Individualism in Egypt
* Jewish/Arab Education in Israel
* CultureLinks
+ President Sarkozy’s Diversity & Inclusion Plan
+ Dark Knight not Released in China
+ East & West: Culturally Astute Art
* CultureTips
+ Spain
+ Singapore
+ Social Networking Culture: Facebook

Issue #10: January 30, 2009
* A Cultured White House
* Speaking English in Hong Kong’s Schools
* Abu Dhabi’s Controversial Purchase
* The Year of the Ox
* CultureLinks
+ Expatriate Assignments 2009
+ Bargaining and Shopkeeping
+ “Third Culture Kids”
* CultureTips
+ United Arab Emirates
+ Poland
+ Culture Shock

Issue #9: December 19, 2008
* Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market
* “The American Owl” in China
* Shoes in Arab Culture
* Offshoring to Increase
* CultureLinks
+ Decision-Making on Global Teams
+ Expatriate Families
+ A Multicultural USA
* CultureTips
+ Indonesia
+ South Africa
+ Change Tolerance

Issue #8: November 25, 2008
* Global Experience & Leadership
* Culture Clash
* The Eyewitness Vs. The Reader
* Culturally Competent Teaching
* CultureLinks
+ Dubai’s Cultural Divide
+ Burger King in China
+ The First Ecuadorian Chocolate Brand
* CultureTips
+ Kenya
+ The Party in Japan
+ Informal Societies

Issue #7: August 27, 2008
* Globalization’s Ripple Effect
* Harmony and the Dream
* Culture Versus Technology
* Cram Schools in South Korea
* CultureLinks
+ Germany Discounters
+ Pay TV in Africa
+ Japan Both Needs and Fears Chinese Workers
* CultureTips
+ India
+ France
+ Direct Communication

Issue #6: July 30, 2008
* Cultural Incongruity?
* How Controllable is Culture, Anyway?
* Corporate Culture: Key to Innovation Success
* Jelly Belly Extends Its Market
* CultureLinks
+ In India, Magazine Industry Booming
+ Globalization Brings Investment to Mediterranean
+ Entrepreneurial Spirit drives Taiwan
+ Ettiquette When Communicating with Foreigners
* CultureTips
+ Bulgaria
+ New Zealand
+ Indirect Communication

Issue #5: June 24, 2008
* America At Its Best
* Cultural Due Diligence
* New EU Treaty
* Retooling Culture At Chrysler
* CultureLinks
+ Renault Sponsors Culture Lessons to Sell Cars
+ The World Is Upside Down
+ In Parts Of Europe, Workers Head Home
+ Global Attitidues Survey Shows US Ratings Up
* CultureTips
+ Thailand
+ Sweden
+ Email Etiquette

Issue #4: May 29, 2008
* The Cognitive Age
* Moving Towards Diversity
* Kraft Reformats the Oreo
* Virtual Workplace Do’s and Dont’s
* CultureLinks
+ Competition for Experienced Managers in China is Fierce
+ Global Relocation Survey
+ The New Breed of Business Gurus
+ The City of Dalian Partners with SUNY
* CultureTips
+ Russia
+ Mexico
+ Decision-making

Issue #3: April 29, 2008
* Medical Tourism
* Shriking the Carbon Footprint
* Environment in China Affecting FIEs
* A Global Mindset
* CultureLinks
+ Have You Driven A Fjord Lately?
+ Medical Staff Require Training on Inter-Cultural Awareness
+ Mandarin…the Next Global Language
+ Indian Companies in Need of Cross-Cultural Training
* CultureTips
+ Japan
+ Argentina
+ The Leader’s Influence

Issue #2: March 26, 2008
* American Optimism and Sub-Prime Meltdown
* Women in Emerging Economies
* Car Clash
* Pace too slow for French Entrepreneurs
* CultureLinks
+ HP Top Talent to Work abroad
+ Program Trains People to Treat Depression in India
+ HR in Africa: Unique Challenges Abroad
+ Guess Who’s Getting the Most Work Visas
* CultureTips
+ China – Guanxi
+ Ireland
+ Impact of Language on Global Teams

Issue #1: February 20, 2008
* Introducing CultureWizard Digest
* Reflections on Davos
* Kerviel through the cultural lens
* People as a National Resource
* CultureLinks
+ Young and Impatient in India
+ As Sales Go Global, So Do Managers
+ U.S. Universities Rush to Set Up Outposts Abroad
+ Entrepreneurship Takes Off in Ireland
* CultureTips
+ Chile
+ Germany
+ Global/Virtual Teams

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