Assignment:
Your fast-food franchise cleared for business in all four countries (United Arab Emirates, Israel, Mexico, and China). You now have to start construction on your restaurants. The financing is coming from the United Arab Emirates, the materials are coming from Mexico and China, the engineering and technology are coming from Israel, and the labor will be hired locally within these countries by your management team from the United States. You invite all of the players to the headquarters in the United States for a big meeting to explain the project and get to know one another. In preparation for the meeting, you want to avoid cultural silos, while ensuring all parties engage with each other.
Answer the following questions in preparation:
1. What do you know about these cultures, specifically their political, economic, legal, educational, family, and social systems, that could help you in getting the project team together?
2. What are some of the contrasting cultural values about uncertainty avoidance, ethnocentrism, communication apprehension, and culture shock that could potentially influence a cultural silo mindset and prevent team engagement?