Cultural Literacy

This competency assessment (CA) assesses your level of performance on the specific Outcome(s) that are the focus of this module. The CA requires you to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding, and proficiency of the Outcome(s). Be sure to use the other activities in this module prior to attempting the CA. You may attempt the CA multiple times within the term. However, the CA must be completed successfully by the end of the term to earn credit. Refer to your Syllabus for additional information regarding the number of attempts permitted.
Be sure to review the Competency Assessment Rubric to understand the criteria on which you will be evaluated.
Instructors will provide feedback on the CA. If you expect to receive feedback, revise, and resubmit this CA near the end of the term, be sure to follow the guidelines and deadlines for submission in your Syllabus.
Introduction: Cultural literacy is critically important when it comes to sending personnel overseas to live and work. If there are family members also moving overseas, their acclimation to the new environment may affect the employee’s ability to perform successfully abroad.
Read the scenario and then address the checklist items.
Scenario: Jorge, as the global team manager, was hired to manage some new global teams for AlternativeSource, Inc. (ASI), an alternative-energy company implementing wind, solar, and water-generated energy systems throughout the globe. Jorge had worked previously for a gas exploration company in North America, so he simply hired many of his previous company’s employees who had worked for him at the gas exploration company. Jorge deployed the teams along with their families to work with Indian nationals and clients in India. Since India is such a large country, although there is some autonomy for the teams, all decisions were made by Jorge and then subsequently communicated with the teams.
After 5 months in the field, the teams are not performing well. The team members are frustrated by what they termed as internal conflicts and “the clients’ lack of cooperation,” and their families seem to be unhappy in the new environment. The ASI executive management team is beginning to ask questions not only regarding the teams’ performance but also regarding the hiring process used. ASI has an employee handbook saying that the company hires people based on abilities from a diverse pool of candidates that also represent their diversity of global clients.
After completing your chapter reading and reviewing the learning activities regarding culture and global human resource management (HRM), address the following checklist items.
Checklist:
•    Describe how the current practice of hiring the global teams in India might lead to team conflict, and how to improve the hiring process.
•    Describe how an HR department can assist managers and employees, and their families prepare for and work in an overseas work environment. Provide at least three specific examples as it relates to this scenario.
•    If you had been Jorge, how would you apply the three cultural adaptation skills from your reading in Chapter 16 “Managing Expatriates,” that would help the team members and their families be successful in adjusting to India?

•    The paper should be in a minimum 11/2- to 2-page (i.e., 350–500 word) Microsoft® Word® document with additional title and reference pages, and the paper should follow APA format and citation style.
•    Use focused, concise, organized writing.
•    Articulate at a college level.
•    Few, or no grammar or punctuation errors.
•    Use non-offensive, inclusive, and respectful language.
•    Write in the third person to develop your marketing research deliverable.
•    Your deliverable must be submitted to the Competency Assessment Dropbox.
•    Respond to the inquiries in a thorough manner, providing specific examples of concepts to illustrate your points, topics, definitions, and other elements asked for in the questions. Your paper should be highly organized, logical, and focused.
•    The paper must be written in Standard English, including correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
•    You should paraphrase the material and use in-text citations to justify your discussion. Avoid using quotations. Ensure you are properly paraphrasing from your sources. For a refresher on paraphrasing, view this short video on paraphrasing and explore the additional resources prior to starting your assessment. You can access tutorials, how-to videos, tutoring services, and more by visiting the Academic Success Center.
•    A separate page at the end of your paper should contain a list of references, in current APA format. Use resources from reliable and/or scholarly sources. Use your textbook, the Library, and the Internet for research.
•    Be sure to include references for all sources and cite them using in-text citations where appropriate. Your sources and content should follow current APA citation style. Review the writing resources for APA formatting and citation found in Academic Tools. Additional writing resources can be found within the Academic Success Center.
•    Your paper submission should:
o    include a title page;
o    be double-spaced; and
o    be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
If the work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum submission requirements, it will be returned for revision. If the work submitted does not meet the minimum submission requirements by the end of the term, you will receive a failing score.