Chapter 17, Human Resource Management in the Global Firm Video Solutions, International business: the new realities

00:28

Problem 1

Emaar's slogan for their HR is "Satisfied Employees Create Satisfied Customers". What does this mean?

Erwin Antoni

Numerade Educator

02:27

Problem 2

How does Etisalat ensure that their employees have access to quality career development programs?

Rashmi Sinha

Numerade Educator

Problem 3

Suggest how a corporation like Etisalat could create an comprehensive training program.

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Traditionally, Japanese MNEs followed an ethnocentric orientation in international staffing, in which managers from headquarters held key subsidiary positions. Sony is shifting away from this model. What approach should Sony follow for staffing its subsidiaries? When recruiting expatriates for foreign operations, what characteristics should Sony emphasize to ensure that its managers are adept at living and working abroad?

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Problem 5

Sony faces challenges in finding suitable talent for its operations in China and Europe. What steps should it take to ensure that it has an adequate pool of international managers and other talent for worldwide operations? What should Sony do to promote global mind-sets?

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Problem 6

What is your view of Sony's training efforts? What steps could Sony take to improve its training in light of its multicountry operations?

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Problem 7

Sony has experienced labor relations problems in Indonesia and elsewhere. What strategies should management follow to improve labor relations? What can it do to reduce the number and severity of labor difficulties the firm might face in the future?

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Problem 8

What is your view of Sony's efforts at corporate social responsibility (CSR) in international operations? What steps can Sony take to improve CSR in organizing and managing its operations around the world, particularly in developing countries and emerging markets?

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Problem 9

What is international human resource management (IHRM)? Why is it important to internationalize firms? What is the role of IHRM in company strategy?

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Problem 10

Under what circumstances would an MNE staff itself with (a) parent-country nationals, (b) hostcountry nationals, and (c) third-country nationals?

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Problem 11

What is expatriate assignment failure? Provide a suitable example.

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Problem 12

What are the benefits of delivering cross-cultural training to expatriates?

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Problem 13

What is the value to an organization of maintaining a global talent pool?

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01:27

Problem 14

What are incomparable outcomes in the context of international performance evaluations? Give a suitable example.

Prashant Bana

Numerade Educator

Problem 15

Suppose you are working abroad as an expatriate for an MNE. What are typical components you would expect to have in your compensation package?

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05:20

Problem 16

What are some key trends affecting international labor?

Mihir Nayar

Numerade Educator

Problem 17

What measures can firms take to enhance the prospects of placing women in international business jobs?

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Problem 18

Nissan Motor Co. is Japan's second-largest automotive company, with annual sales of more than USD $$\$ 100$$ billion. The firm makes Maxima and Sentra cars, Altima and Infiniti upscale sedans, Frontier pickups, and the Xterra and Pathfinder SUVs. Some years ago, Nissan was on the verge of bankruptcy. Then Carlos Ghosn was installed as the firm's CEO. He closed inefficient factories, reduced purchasing costs, and introduced new products. Suppose Nissan asked you to advise it on IHRM issues. What specific human resource strategies would you recommend to enhance the firm's performance further? In particular, how would you advise top management on development of global managers, preparation and training of employees, and how best to integrate the diversity of Japanese and Western managers who come from distinct cultural backgrounds?

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06:23

Problem 19

Global Wannabe (GW), a manufacturer of musical instruments, is eager to internationalize. New to international business, within the coming four years, senior management wants GW to generate at least one-third of its sales from abroad by establishing foreign marketing subsidiaries and production bases in low-cost countries to cut manufacturing costs. GW's president, Larry Gerber, has appointed you to the task force charged with recruiting managers who can run GW's operations abroad. What guidelines would you offer to GW to recruit and select expatriates while avoiding the problem of expatriate assignment failure and evaluating the performance of employees posted abroad?

Sana Riaz

Numerade Educator

02:54

Problem 20

Ethical Dilemma: In China, factory people often work long hours with low pay. Some factories lack heating or air-conditioning, and employees may work with hazardous materials. Workers may be fired if they complain. However, a growing labor union movement is taking hold in China. Despite management resistance, firms such as Tesco and Walmart are being forced to allow Chinese workers to unionize. Unions demand better working conditions and higher wages, and occasionally they go on strike. Management at some MNEs has prevented the workforce from unionizing. Other MNEs are establishing operations in Eastern Europe and Latin America, where labor unions are relatively weak. The Chinese government worries that unionization is hurting inward FDI by scaring foreign companies away from China. Suppose you work for Tesco or Walmart in China. Is it acceptable for your firm to prevent its workers from forming a union? What factors should management consider when determining the appropriateness and role of unions? To whom is your firm accountable-its employees or its shareholders? Can companies reach a fair compromise with workers? Analyze this dilemma by using the ethical framework in Chapter 4.

Samit Deshmukh

Numerade Educator

05:38

Problem 21

Lifestyle factors such as the cost of living vary worldwide. One job of international human resource managers is to develop appropriate compensation packages for managers working abroad. The U.S. Department of State provides information firms can use to calculate compensation around the world. Prepare a report on the factors relevant to developing a compensation package for expatriates working in Prague and Tokyo, including Living Costs Abroad, by accessing the State Department through globalEDGE'M (keywords Travel/Living Abroad) or directly at aoprals.state.gov.

Gus Steppen

Numerade Educator

Problem 22

Stryker Inc. manufactures medical devices and wants to establish a factory in continental Europe. For the location, management must decide between France, Germany, and Poland. You have been assigned to research and recommend the best country from the three choices. Management prefers the country with the best overall profile of productive and low-cost workers. Good data sources for your research are the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), the European Commission (http:// ec.europa.eu), and the OECD (www.stats.oecd.org). Prepare a recommendation on which country - France, Germany, or Poland - would be the best choice to locate the factory. (Note: Such decisions are normally much more complex than implied here, but a preliminary analysis is a starting point for decision making.)

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02:35

Problem 23

Executive Planet ${ }^{\mathrm{TM}}$ provides information for traveling managers and expatriates on how to live and do business in various countries. Suppose that you work for Virgin, the British airline, and are assigned to work in Virgin's office in an emerging market (choose an emerging market such as Argentina, India, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, or Turkey). You need to learn how to be effective in dealing with customers and colleagues in the chosen country. Select three topics (such as making appointments, business dress guidelines, or gift giving) and prepare an executive summary on how to behave regarding the topics you selected for your chosen country. You can find Executive Planet ${ }^{\mathrm{TM}}$ online through globalEDGETM or by visiting the site directly at wuw.executiveplanet.com.