Douglas Henning Henning 1
Adam Smidi, M.B.A.
IBUS 3150-001
09/21/2015
Exam #1
Michelin Case Study A complex web of cause and effect can be used to describe the decline of relationships, trust, respect, and eventually productivity in this case study. But when we look for the reasons for these declines they are not readily apparent until we compare and contrast the cultures involved, using Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture. Quite simply, these dimensions are a model of national and organizational preferences that exist within a culture.
The first dimension that we will discuss is the concept of a cultures depiction as either a masculine or a feminine society. In the Michelin case we see American workers, from a masculine society, set …show more content…
This is a measure of how much or how little, a culture embraces or fears uncertainty or change. In French culture, we see many rules for what is and is not acceptable within a business environ. Where as in the United States we are accustomed to few rules governing such things as idol chit-chat, or the exchange personal information between coworkers. In the Michelin case, Chalon is asked personal questions about his family and personal life and he is shocked at the rudeness of the staff. But in the United States, it is viewed as common place, and often used to break up the day to day activities. Chalon’s avoidance of such activities, can come across to the American workers as distant, or …show more content…
A masculine community where you must be strong in the business environ, but at the same time we are taught that it is acceptable to ask for help from others with a project. American workers want to be noticed, and stand out for their achievements, something that Chalon decided not to do in order to head off complacency. But at the same time the American worker wants to feel like they are an integral part of the business. With this double standard, the American worker can be viewed as wanting their cake and eating it too. As a French business leader, Chalon’s cultural preferences towards collectivism, hierarchical structure, feminism, and change fearing, created an image of uncertainty and mistrust within his American
Adam Smidi, M.B.A.
IBUS 3150-001
09/21/2015
Exam #1
Michelin Case Study A complex web of cause and effect can be used to describe the decline of relationships, trust, respect, and eventually productivity in this case study. But when we look for the reasons for these declines they are not readily apparent until we compare and contrast the cultures involved, using Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture. Quite simply, these dimensions are a model of national and organizational preferences that exist within a culture.
The first dimension that we will discuss is the concept of a cultures depiction as either a masculine or a feminine society. In the Michelin case we see American workers, from a masculine society, set …show more content…
This is a measure of how much or how little, a culture embraces or fears uncertainty or change. In French culture, we see many rules for what is and is not acceptable within a business environ. Where as in the United States we are accustomed to few rules governing such things as idol chit-chat, or the exchange personal information between coworkers. In the Michelin case, Chalon is asked personal questions about his family and personal life and he is shocked at the rudeness of the staff. But in the United States, it is viewed as common place, and often used to break up the day to day activities. Chalon’s avoidance of such activities, can come across to the American workers as distant, or …show more content…
A masculine community where you must be strong in the business environ, but at the same time we are taught that it is acceptable to ask for help from others with a project. American workers want to be noticed, and stand out for their achievements, something that Chalon decided not to do in order to head off complacency. But at the same time the American worker wants to feel like they are an integral part of the business. With this double standard, the American worker can be viewed as wanting their cake and eating it too. As a French business leader, Chalon’s cultural preferences towards collectivism, hierarchical structure, feminism, and change fearing, created an image of uncertainty and mistrust within his American