Purpose of theEssay
The purpose of the Essay is to enable participants to demonstrate criticalunderstandingconcerning the role of culture, investigating processes and approaches tomanagingchange in international and multicultural work environments, in addition to displayingacritical appreciation regarding how to effectively and empathetically conductchangemanagement processes across culturalboundaries.
Nature of theEssay
Participants must produce a critical analysis Essay of total length no more than2,000 words demonstrating the learning that they have acquired in accordance with thethreelearningoutcomesofthemodule:
Theintendedlearningoutcomesarethatoncompletionofthismoduletheparticipantshouldbeableto(particularlyILOs2and3):
1. Critically analyse and operationalise key change management theoriesandconcepts into effective change management practices in internationalandinterculturalsettings.
2. Critically assess cross-cultural issues in MNEs and appreciate theimperative influence on achieving successful change managementprocesses.
3. Develop and provide recommendations in order to operate effectivelyasa global manager in various culturalcontexts.
In their Essays, participantsmustanswerallquestionsrelatingtothecasestudy”Four SeasonsgoestoParis.1Whenansweringthequestions-takethefictitiousroleas thenewlyappointedGeneralManager(GM)ofanewFourSeasonsHotel,inacountry andculturalcontextofyourchoice(forexample,Mr/MrsAgyekum,GeneralManager, newhotelinKumasi,Ghana(AfricanandGhanaiancultures).However,your choiceoflocationandculturalcontextCANNOTbeyourowncity/country/cultureand must be one of the following countries: Columbia, Brazil, Namibia,Turkey,Russia, Australia, or a Scandinavian country. Please also make use of the case material and current information about Four Seasons. You have been requested to provideareport to Four Seasons’ Executive Vice President Worldwide Development, MrScottWoroch – addressing cultural issues relating to change management processes, andtoprovidesuitablerecommendationsforthesurroundingmulticulturalenvironment.
1Hallowell,R.,BowenD.,&Knoop,C-1.2002.FourSeasonsgoestoParis.AcademyofManagementExecutive.16(4):7-23.
The approximate number of words (+/- 10%) and the weighting of each subsection arerecommendedbelow.
Question1:ExecutiveVicePresident,MrScottWoroch,isworriedabouttheprospectsofachievingsuccessful change management processes in hotels located in countries withdifferentcultures. He asks for youropinion:
(A) From a leadershipand cultural adaptation perspective, do you agree withtheappointmentofMrLeCalvezasthenewGeneralManager(inParis)-why/whynot?(150 wordsI8%).
(B) Contemplating on increased international travel and tourism, as well asintensifiedglobalisation(also in the socio-cultural realm) – discuss if Four Seasonsshouldcontinue with the approaches known as “tailor made” hotels and”culturalchameleons”?Wouldyouprefertochangethispractice-why/whynot?(200wordsI10%).
(C) Identifyrelevantlevels/spheresofculturethatyouneedtotakeintoaccountwhen implementingchangeinterventionsinthenewhotelwhereyouworkastheGM?(100 wordsI7%)
(D)CriticallyevaluatethelimitationsofgraspinginterculturalchallengeswithintheFourSeasons organisation, if relying solely on Hofstede’s (1980) ‘CulturalDimensions’approach, and Kogut and Sing’s (1988) ‘Cultural Distance’ construct? (350 wordsI15%)
You can draw upon examples from other Case Studies as well as from the fictitiousnewhotel.
Question2:
TakingintoaccountFourSeason’sorganisationalcultureandtheculturalenvironmentin thecity/countrywhereyouhavebeenappointedasthenewGM,highlightpotential interculturalchallengeswhichyou(astheGM) mightfacewhenadoptingthespecific FourSeason’sorganisationalcultureinthenewhotelinrelationtolocalstaff.
Support your argument by using two human resource practices fromtheCase Study as examples, and explain by analysinga minimum of three(across bothHRpractices) factors which may reflect cultural “clash”, and cultural “fit”? (450 words/25%)Question3:
Recommend to Mr Scott Woroch what top-management should emphasise (as ameansto motivate new local staff-members to participate in change managementprocesses)when explaining the implementation phase of change processes in a culturallyeffectivefashion (400 words/20%).
Identify a particularimplementationapproach(groundedintheory),andusethisasan examplewhenprovidingyouranswertothisquestion.
Question4:
MrScott Woroch has some doubts as to whether you possess the appropriate interculturalskill-setforembarkingontheroleasGMatthenewhotel.Herequeststhatyoureflectuponyourinterculturalcapabilities-ashebelievesincreasedculturalself-awarenessleadstoenhanceddecision-making.Completethebelowform-focusingonyourselfasan
individual(GM) (attach as an appendix – it does not count towards the wordlimit)(15%).
IN T E Your YourR lnterculturalStrengths lnterculturalWeaknessesNA L You also need to include a cover page, an introduction (100 words, 3%) andconclusion (200 words, 5%). In the conclusion, you must also state an importantlesson you have learnt- with relevance to managing change in anMNE/internationalorganisation (2-4 sentences would suffice) as far as enhancing your own culturalself-awareness and intercultural skills are concerned, having completed the Module andEssay.
Cover page, appendix, and reference list do not count towards the total word-countof2,000 words. However, marks will be deducted if you exceed the maximumword-limitwith more than 10% (200 words), and if your document does not meet expectedstandards in terms of grammar and spelling mistakes, referencing, andprofessionalismin general. Your Module Team, however, will be sympathetic when it comes togivingsome allowances if you are a non-native Englishspeaker.
You may invent headings and sub-headings (but please avoid more than threesublevels), a cover page, as well as reordering the structure of the above questions. TheEssay should feature the following overall structure: Cover page (Essay Title ofyourchoice), introduction, Analysis and Discussion (answering the questions by drawinguponrelevant theories and concepts, as well as practical examples), Conclusion, Referencelist(Harvard), andAppendix.
Please indicate which question you are addressing in brackets next to eachsub-heading.
Criteria for Coursework(Essay)
The Essay is assessed in percentage terms and must be passed (40%) in order topassthe Module, and participants must demonstrate achievement of the aforesaidLearningOutcomesoftheModule(andaminimumof40%overall).TheEssaycountsfor40%ofyour overall module mark.
It isexpectedthatparticipantswilldrawuponbothmainstreamCross-Cultural Managementliteratureaswellassourcesfromotherdisciplines-asreflectedinthe presentedmaterialduringlecturersandseminars(andtheMoodleweb),inadditionto requiredandproposedpre-readings(ChangeManagementandcognatesubject-areas). Participantsshouldreferenceaminimumof10differentacademicsources,suchas journalarticles(peer-reviewed),inadditiontoothersources.WikipediaisNOTan academicsource,andshouldnotbecited.Lectureslidesshouldbeavoidedas referencesources,however,somebooks(chapters)andafewwebsites(ifacademically soundandrespectable),isacceptable.
Marks will be deducted if you have cited too few sources (references), and ifthescope of the cited literature is too narrow.
CourseworkSubmissionThe Essay must be submitted electronically on the Moodle web. Coursework must be submitted using TURNITIN which is aplagiarismcheckingsystem.
It is imperativethatyoupresentaprofessional,clearlycommunicated,andstructured documentwhichiscorrectlyreferenced.StudentsshoulduseHarvardreferencestyle:<https://students.coventry.ac.uk/Library/Pages/ReferencingAndCopyright.aspx>.TheEssay document must contain a full reference list as per the above guide.
Plagiarism is unacceptable. If detected, you risk receiving a ZERO mark for the Essayand thus failing the Module. You will become a subject to the appropriateacademicdisciplinary committee and procedures.
Re-submissionforCoursework{Essay)
If having failed (below 40%) the Coursework overall (Presentation and/or Essay),theparticipant must re-submit the component which he or she failed (new andreviseddocument) counting for the same percentage (date to be confirmed). If havingfailedbothCourseworkcomponents,thenbothwrittendocumentsmustbere-submitted(alsovia Turnitin).
Marking Schedule for the Group ProjectPresentations
Feedback and marks obtained will be given on the Moodle web (within two weeksafterthe deadline) using Turnitinand GradeMark (provisional, and subject tointernalmoderation).FinalmarkswillbereturnedaftertheExamBoards(datetobeconfirmed).
Assessment Criteria Marks(outof100%)
First70 –100 The Essay is well structuredandcommunicated. It is coherent andshowsan excellent level of synthesis or evaluation with clear signs oforiginalityand personal insight. Has readextensivelybeyond the immediatelyrelevantreading.
For a mark of 80+ the Essay should beofsufficientstandardtomakeacontributionto the wider academic world.
Two-One(2:1)60 –69 The Essay shows clear evidenceofindependent inquiry and criticaljudgement in analysing and synthesising. Has read theimmediately relevant literature and toalimited extent beyond.