Human Resource Management

¶ … Theory-Based Framework for Selecting Cross-Cultural Training Methods Major Thesis A framework applying the appropriate cross-cultural training methods is essential to ensure success in fostering good international business relations. Supporting Arguments The article by Black and Mendenhall establishes the need to create a bridge between business cultures in order to be successful in the business world.

Covering various aspects of the concept the authors suggest that although the global business activity has seen a phenomenal growth in international business, there has not been a sincere initiative to view business relationships in the perspective of different cultures. Since business operations cannot be delineated from good relationships, this aspect of doing business is very much important. In international businesses different nationalities have to interact with each other in various degrees.

It is imperative to know the cultural backgrounds, customs and practices of a country before one tries to establish a long-term business relationship with the people of that country. In fact a long lasting business relationship will be in place only if people are comfortable with each other and are confident to interact with each other. It is here that the concept of cross-cultural training comes into the picture. Cross-cultural training helps people of different nationalities to understand another culture closely before embarking on a business mission.

Even though the importance of cross cultural training is an unavoidable aspect of international business grooming has been accepted in companies, a methodology or framework that effectively deploys a training session according to specific requirements is unfortunately rare.

A framework that effectively administers cross cultural training must be adequate to specific needs, must be flexible for different people and nationalities and must be complete in all respects so that business executives have the necessary confidence when they deal with other cultural groups in order to avoid misunderstandings that may cause the failure of a potential business feat. Conclusive Analysis Since guidelines are rare on a proper framework for imparting cross-cultural training, the authors have tried to fill this void with their research and experience.

The authors have found out that the intensity of the training can be altered according to the level of interaction of any business venture. The more interactions a group is expected to have with another cultural group, the more intensive should be the training that must be imparted to the group. The framework suggested here by the authors is a comprehensive one in the sense that it covers all the major aspects of the role of a businessman including his family.

The authors have modeled their framework on the globally accepted principles of Social Learning Theory or SLT. SLT helps to pinpoint training requirements and hence does not put a strain on training efforts. SLT has helped the authors to incorporate some very important principle like learning by example, imitating and modification of responses, which are the common processes that juveniles adopt in a social group. The author repeatedly stresses the fact that a good HR department is very much required to prepare executives on a foreign mission.

The importance of training the family, especially the spouse when they relocate to a foreign land is emphasized and the authors believe that the performance of the family is very much important in the success of an executive. In conclusion the paper outlines some salient features of CCT in the corporate world. CCT is a requirement, which should be implemented seriously and sincerely. CCT should involve families of the executives.

The training program is important even for people who are on very short visits or whose level of interaction is very minimal with foreign nationals. In short CCT is an indivisible part of the relation building process of companies having international operations. Analysis This article is very informative and provides a definite direction to understand CCT in a new.