Purchase Solution

Multicultural Team: Action Plan

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Leading a Multicultural Team through a Change Process

Backgrround: Assume you have recently been assigned to lead a six-person team working on a new health care product that could revolutionize the treatment of diabetes. This product would allow glucose readings to be taken without any needles or skin pricks. Obviously, if the product is successful, you and the rest of the team stand to earn bonuses, promotions, and industry recognition.

You are being asked to lead the team because under the former leader, the project team missed several critical deadlines, and costs have spiraled out of control.

The team all works out of an office in Maryland. The team is made up of the following people:

John, a 43-year-old African American, man, born in Bowie, Maryland
Julie, a 51-year-old Chinese-American woman, born in the District of Columbia
Jinsoo, a 27-year-old South Korean man who immigrated from Seoul
Tom, a 63-year-old white American, born in Los Angeles, California, who recently moved to Maryland
Darius, a 32-year-old Iranian man whose parents brought him to the United States when he was six years old
Harpreet, a 30-year-old Indian woman who immigrated 10 years ago
Darius and Harpreet joined the team three months ago. The rest of the team has been together for three years.

The new product is due to be delivered for beta testing six months from today. Today, your first day on the job, you have spent the entire day talking to each team member separately. Here is what you have discovered so far today:

Darius and Tom have been in conflict for several weeks over how to approach the design of a critical piece of the product.
John and Julie are so disillusioned that they are job hunting, but each has unique skills that you do not wish to lose.
Jinsoo tends to isolate himself when there is conflict, which decreases his productivity.
Tom believes that the rest of the team is cutting him out of the picture because of his age and lack of interest in using Google to create workspaces where everyone can brainstorm. Tom would rather just talk about his ideas.
You were also briefed by the general manager, who shared that the former leader had been fired due to unethical practices such as taking bribes from vendors. However, the team members didn't know that and really liked the former leader; they are angry that he is gone.

Assignment: Using your knew knowledge of multicultural teams and communication, the change process, decision making, and ethics, write an action plan of about 5 pages to get this team back on track. This paper should be supported by your readings and must provide specific steps based on this knowledge. Cite sources, etc. Remember—whenever you write a paper in a course, your task is to show that you understand the material you are learning, that you can apply it to specific situations, and that you can think critically and creatively in new situations. I am looking for specific actions from you to address the issues you think are key for success on the team. Please describe your actions in paragraph format (not just a list) and integrated into a paper with smooth transitions.

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

This solution explains the development of a multicultural team actions plan. The sources used are also included in the solution.

Solution Preview

In accordance with BrainMass standards this is not a hand in ready assignment but is only background help

Action Plan:
Step 1
Darius and Tom have been in conflict over the design of a critical piece of the product. I will call them together for mediation. I will tell them that I am objective and want to resolve their conflict. At the beginning, I will clarify the project goals, and company's priorities. I will encourage them to share their viewpoints and ask both Darius and Tom to participate in reaching a solution. I will improve their communication by adding information I have and using problem solving techniques. In addition I will ensure that both Tom and Darius get comfortable with each other. During the discussion, I will treat both Darius and Tom fairly. I will make sure that I am not perceived to be leaning towards one of them. I will ask them to resolve the conflict between them in an amicable manner(a). Through my mediation I will increase opportunities for interaction between them on continuous basis. In addition, I will give suggestions on how to resolve their conflict. When they have resolved their differences, if possible, I will arrange for communications skills training and conflict resolution training for all members of the team.

Step 2
John and Julie are so disillusioned that they are job hunting, but each has unique skills that I do not wish to lose. My action plan will be to first meet with them both and listen to them. Next I will thank them for the skills they have contributed to the project and for doing a good job. My thanks will be grateful. Further, if needed, I will provide them with feedback and suggestions for improving their performance. I will explain to them how the project requires their skills and how it will benefit from their skills. Also, if John or Julie has shown good performance in the past, I will recognize it and if feasible give them a reward for it. I will ask John and Julie suggestions relating to decision for the project (b). If required, I will offer them training in more skills so that they can improve their skills set. I will ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Academic Reading and Writing: Critical Thinking

Importance of Critical Thinking

Business Ethics Awareness Strategy

This quiz is designed to assess your current ability for determining the characteristics of ethical behavior. It is essential that leaders, managers, and employees are able to distinguish between positive and negative ethical behavior. The quicker you assess a person's ethical tendency, the awareness empowers you to develop a strategy on how to interact with them.

Marketing Research and Forecasting

The following quiz will assess your ability to identify steps in the marketing research process. Understanding this information will provide fundamental knowledge related to marketing research.

Understanding Management

This quiz will help you understand the dimensions of employee diversity as well as how to manage a culturally diverse workforce.

Transformational Leadership

This quiz covers the topic of transformational leadership. Specifically, this quiz covers the theories proposed by James MacGregor Burns and Bernard Bass. Students familiar with transformational leadership should easily be able to answer the questions detailed below.