Week 2 - Assignment 1: Explore Managing in a Global Context

Week 2: Mini Lecture

Managing in a Global Context

Global organizations are defined as businesses that operate simultaneously throughout the world. Global leaders are critical to their organization by contributing to the development of strategy, creating the appropriate culture, and managing diverse people. Having the essential leadership skills and global intellect is vital to the global manager’s success.

Skills for global leaders include understanding their environment with opportunities and challenges; having the technical knowledge, skills, and insights, along with a global “mindset”; possessing the ability to deal with multiple perspectives and ambiguity using global strategic thinking; demonstrating a willingness and ability to adapt to rapid change and inspire others to embrace that change; and exhibiting an ability to manage the complexities of leading teams with people from different nationalities working in multiple locations.

An important growing function for global organizations is their involvement in helping to solve social problems and make a positive impact in communities around the world. Corporate social responsibility (CSR), as it is known, continues to be a growing philosophy where consumers and employees want companies to evolve their business practices to make a positive societal impact.

Still, the reality is that globalization poses many challenges for managers. For example managers struggle with the extent to which organizational policies and practices can be standardized with respect to local customs, traditions and needs. Further, global teams with its members from different countries and functional backgrounds working in various locations with a multitude of communication styles present its own challenges.