Ellen Moore: Living and Working in Korea
|Ellen Moore (A): Living and Working in Korea |
|INBS 520 – Managing Global Workforce |
| |
|Ellen Moore, a co-senior consultant, is assigned to work in Korea and lead a project |
|with her Korean counterpart Jack. Being a woman and having no experience with the |
|Korean culture puts her at an early disadvantage which she tries to overcome during |
|the first few weeks of her assignment. |
| |
|Petra Schiffner-Jimenez |
|2/8/2012 |
| |
Q1:
The case study “Ellen Moore (A): Living and Working in Korea” shows how a Systems Consulting Group is struggling with challenges originating from the clashing of two disparate cultures. Communication Barriers, unclear leadership and direction, differing attitudes towards hierarchy and authority, problems with group development and low emotional and cultural intelligence in the group are major challenges the team has to face.
One of the biggest challenges is the communication barrier. One of the main causes for communication barriers is cultural diversity. The American culture is known to have a very direct and explicit communication which does not expect the listener to read between the lines or interpret the context. The Korean culture on the other hand uses indirect communication which makes it hard for western cultures to understand what is really meant or wanted. In addition, the Confucianism in the Korean culture teaches to show respect for teachers and superiors. Showing respect to a
|INBS 520 – Managing Global Workforce |
| |
|Ellen Moore, a co-senior consultant, is assigned to work in Korea and lead a project |
|with her Korean counterpart Jack. Being a woman and having no experience with the |
|Korean culture puts her at an early disadvantage which she tries to overcome during |
|the first few weeks of her assignment. |
| |
|Petra Schiffner-Jimenez |
|2/8/2012 |
| |
Q1:
The case study “Ellen Moore (A): Living and Working in Korea” shows how a Systems Consulting Group is struggling with challenges originating from the clashing of two disparate cultures. Communication Barriers, unclear leadership and direction, differing attitudes towards hierarchy and authority, problems with group development and low emotional and cultural intelligence in the group are major challenges the team has to face.
One of the biggest challenges is the communication barrier. One of the main causes for communication barriers is cultural diversity. The American culture is known to have a very direct and explicit communication which does not expect the listener to read between the lines or interpret the context. The Korean culture on the other hand uses indirect communication which makes it hard for western cultures to understand what is really meant or wanted. In addition, the Confucianism in the Korean culture teaches to show respect for teachers and superiors. Showing respect to a