Case Study 2: Crossing Borders

1) What competencies are appropriate to ensure greater effectiveness of U.S. employees operating in a maquiladora or other non-US organization?

Because American Organizational culture is different as a whole to any other countries in the world, and vice versa, it is very important for the U.S. employees to develop some skills to ensure greater effectiveness in operating at different countries.

The most important skill for the employee to develop is definitely speaking the main language used in the organization. If the employee were to operate in a maquiladora, then the employee should at least know basic Spanish so that he or she could communicate with his or her colleagues.

Other than the language, the employee should be willing to learn about their culture, because what is accepted by Americans might be something unpleasant to them. For example, in the United States, in a business environment we do not like receiving gifts because we feel like we are being bribed. But in Asian countries it is a custom for you to give them a token when you are dealing business with them.

The employee should also be flexible, willing to adjust their current American practices to fit with the needs of foreign employees. Since we are working in an organization, teamwork is needed. If the employee is still using his style of working, when his surrounding is already accustomed to their style of working, then it would be a mess. If the employee feels that the foreign employees practices needs to be adjusted to a more better way (following the American practices) than he should approach them slowly and suggest to them for a change. Of course, you can't just change practices in a day!

Lastly, to sum it all up, the employee should always be OPEN MINDED ?

2) What are some of the costs of not understanding diversity? What could the organization have gained by approaching the plant with greater cultural understanding?

Some of the costs of not understanding diversity include: loss of valuable personnel, high turnover and absenteeism, unnecessary or excessive training cost, and poor community relations. If the organization had tried to understand Mexican Workers and their needs, USMed could have gained a productive workforce, since workers would know that the corporate head was not only concerned with generating revenues but he/she was also concerned about their needs as workers.

3) From the HR Perspective, what were the unique challenges that Angelica faced at various points in her work for USMed?

Angelica faced a challenging transition and different challenges. Although she had a Hispanic upbringing and could speak the language, it was a different culture in Mexico than in the United