Globalisation and Globalisation and TeamworkTeamwork

Dr. Peter CullenDr. Peter CullenLanguage and Culture for BusinessLanguage and Culture for Business

Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature University of Urbino Carlo BoUniversity of Urbino Carlo Bo

www.cl4englishlistening.wordpress.comwww.cl4englishlistening.wordpress.competer.cullen@uniurb.itpeter.cullen@uniurb.it

Teamwork: What is a team?Teamwork: What is a team?

A A teamteam is a group of people who work together to is a group of people who work together to acheive a common acheive a common goalgoal via commonly established via commonly established and followed and followed proceduresprocedures, , processesprocesses and and rulesrules..

m+m+m+m = 4m? m+m+m+m = 4m? associationassociation

m+m+m+m = N? m+m+m+m = N? communitycommunity

A team has A team has directiondirection..A team agrees on A team agrees on processprocess and rules for completing and rules for completing tasks.tasks.A team is a finite sphere ofA team is a finite sphere of cultural interaction cultural interaction..A team may or may not have a A team may or may not have a team leaderteam leader..Teams may be Teams may be formalformal or or informalinformal..

Understanding teamwork Understanding teamwork and globalisationand globalisation

Globalisation:Globalisation:

““The process of The process of transformationtransformation of local or regional of local or regional phenomena into global ones. This process is a phenomena into global ones. This process is a combination of economic, technological, socio-combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural, and political forces.” Sheila Croucher (Miami cultural, and political forces.” Sheila Croucher (Miami U).U).

Global systems are NOT new. Global systems are NOT new.

The current scale of globalisation is.The current scale of globalisation is.

““Globalisation” as a theory developed from academic Globalisation” as a theory developed from academic interest in capitalism and imperialism.interest in capitalism and imperialism.

Understanding teamwork Understanding teamwork and globalisationand globalisation

Information:Information:

Information Technology (Information Technology (ITIT) has increased ) has increased participation in global processes.participation in global processes.

““global villageglobal village” term popularised by communications ” term popularised by communications theorist M. McLuhan between 1962-1964.theorist M. McLuhan between 1962-1964.

ICTs now influence processes of:ICTs now influence processes of:personal communicationpersonal communication film/TV/musicfilm/TV/music

marketingmarketing personal consumption personal consumption (Amazon)(Amazon)

financefinance transport consumption transport consumption (e-tickets)(e-tickets)

managementmanagement behavioural interactionbehavioural interaction

languagelanguage ICT development itselfICT development itself

Understanding teamwork Understanding teamwork and globalisationand globalisation

Recent globalisation has dramatically changed the Recent globalisation has dramatically changed the field of interactionfield of interaction across societies. across societies.

BUT: BUT: each society functions according to its own each society functions according to its own cultural cultural learninglearning – initially. – initially.

How can culturally different people from different How can culturally different people from different societies find societies find common valuescommon values and forms of and forms of communication communication for the purpose of acheiving a goal or for the purpose of acheiving a goal or goals through shared processes?goals through shared processes?

Lakshmi Mittal – Lakshmi Mittal – CEO/owner of CEO/owner of Arcelor MittalArcelor Mittal

Understanding teamwork Understanding teamwork and globalisationand globalisation

Globalised teamwork may take two forms:Globalised teamwork may take two forms:

Division of competenciesDivision of competencies among teams across the among teams across the globeglobe(traditional multinational corporate model)(traditional multinational corporate model)

Interaction Interaction withinwithin a global team. a global team.(globalisation of management)(globalisation of management)

In companies, each form suggests a different In companies, each form suggests a different approach to teamwork andapproach to teamwork and

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP

What is leadership?What is leadership?

LeadershipLeadership is the act is the act andand quality of leading other quality of leading other people in a common effort to acheive a goal.people in a common effort to acheive a goal.

Leaders Leaders may be people or institutions.may be people or institutions.

LeadershipLeadership may be formal, informal or both. may be formal, informal or both.

LeadershipLeadership requires structures, systems and requires structures, systems and processes of communication. It is institutionalised.processes of communication. It is institutionalised.

IT IS A FORM OF IT IS A FORM OF CULTURAL COMMUNCATIONCULTURAL COMMUNCATION

Leading peopleLeading people

In In humanhuman and and animalanimal societies and communities, societies and communities, certain individuals or limited groups act to organise certain individuals or limited groups act to organise and regulate the behaviour of other group members.and regulate the behaviour of other group members.

Conflict resolution was the prime motivator of the Conflict resolution was the prime motivator of the early functionality of early functionality of leadershipleadership in human in human communities.communities.

It created a need for It created a need for authorityauthority..

This differentiation significantly changed the way This differentiation significantly changed the way primates view their primates view their cultural fieldcultural field, creating a culture , creating a culture of of norms, rules and lawsnorms, rules and laws..

Leading peopleLeading people

Authorities function to establish Authorities function to establish consensusconsensus and and directiondirection in group in group behaviourbehaviour with respect to norms, with respect to norms, rules and laws.rules and laws.

This requires cultural negotiation between leaders This requires cultural negotiation between leaders and the group.and the group.

Cultural negotiation may occur through Cultural negotiation may occur through linguistic linguistic communicationcommunication

OROR

Non-linguisticNon-linguistic communication. communication.

Language and cultureLanguage and cultureThe language process uses a The language process uses a codecode to to communicatecommunicate a a messagemessage from a from a producerproducer to a to a receiverreceiver – but: – but:

Each variable depends on its relationship to the other Each variable depends on its relationship to the other variables for variables for understandingunderstanding to happen. to happen.

Culture Culture operates with a similar series of feedback loops.operates with a similar series of feedback loops.(i.e. Bourdieu)(i.e. Bourdieu)

ProducerProducercodecode

messagemessage

communicationcommunication

receiverreceiver

understandingunderstanding MEMORYMEMORY

Feedback loop at each Feedback loop at each stagestage

Leading peopleLeading people

Authority accesses Authority accesses cultural feedback loopscultural feedback loops at at different places for different purposes.different places for different purposes.

Authority may be Authority may be concentratedconcentrated or or distributeddistributed..

Concentrated to distributed authority.Concentrated to distributed authority.

DictatorshipDictatorshipAbsolute monarchyAbsolute monarchy

OligarchyOligarchyParliamentary monarchyParliamentary monarchyRepublican democracyRepublican democracy

Cooperatives or communesCooperatives or communes

Leading peopleLeading people

Concentrated Concentrated authorityauthority creates creates and and imposesimposes message, enforcing rigid interpretation of message, enforcing rigid interpretation of codecode..

Why?Why?

DistributedDistributed authority creates message through authority creates message through active consensus, active consensus, seekingseeking legitimacylegitimacy of both of both message and code through message and code through social accordsocial accord..

Why?Why?

Authority = responsibiltyAuthority = responsibilty

Leadership in businessLeadership in business

Businesses have specific social, cultural, economic, Businesses have specific social, cultural, economic, political and historical political and historical contexts of developmentcontexts of development..

Business Business functions and processesfunctions and processes inform their inform their approaches to leadership. Economic resources are approaches to leadership. Economic resources are the key.the key.

CorporationsCorporationsPublic companiesPublic companiesLarge family-owned companiesLarge family-owned companiesMSMEsMSMEs

US models?US models?Euro models?Euro models?Asia? Africa?Asia? Africa?

Board of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsCEO/CFOCEO/CFODept. Dept. Director/ManagerDirector/ManagerMiddle managementMiddle managementOwner-operatorOwner-operatorClass A shareholderClass A shareholderClass B shareholderClass B shareholderStakeholdersStakeholders

Teamwork and leadershipTeamwork and leadership

Global teams must understand their relationships to Global teams must understand their relationships to authorityauthority..

WhoseWhose goals? goals?

Which processesWhich processes to achieve these goals? to achieve these goals?

Is authority Is authority concentratedconcentrated or or distributeddistributed??

Is the team Is the team globally interactiveglobally interactive or divided according or divided according to to competencycompetency??

Is authority Is authority internalinternal or or externalexternal to the team? Or both? to the team? Or both?

Teamwork and leadershipTeamwork and leadership

Global teamwork may need to Global teamwork may need to create newcreate new and and personalised forms of personalised forms of communicationcommunication in order to in order to agree on processes for reaching team goals. Internal agree on processes for reaching team goals. Internal feedback loops.feedback loops.

•Forms of communication must be Forms of communication must be functionalfunctional to daily to daily practice.practice.•Values within the team must be Values within the team must be functionalfunctional to daily to daily practice.practice.•Results of teamwork must be Results of teamwork must be functionalfunctional to team to team communication and values!communication and values!•Global teamwork must make Global teamwork must make diversitydiversity functional. functional.

Global teams must create Global teams must create communitycommunity. m+m+m+m = . m+m+m+m = NN

How can we create global communities?How can we create global communities?

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

ConceptsConcepts::

ProductionProduction costcost exchangeexchange

DistributionDistribution priceprice trade/exchangetrade/exchange

ConsumptionConsumption returnreturn valuevalue

All of these concepts involve learning feedback loops.All of these concepts involve learning feedback loops.

Some of them directly involve a relationship to the Some of them directly involve a relationship to the physical worldphysical world..

Some of them are Some of them are abstractionsabstractions created for the created for the purpose of understanding the physical world.purpose of understanding the physical world.

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

The concepts and actions that we The concepts and actions that we define as “define as “economiceconomic” are ” are bound by bound by cultureculture..

What are some concepts of What are some concepts of “economy” and “business”?“economy” and “business”?

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

ValueValue::

The establishment of value is abstract, fluxuating, and The establishment of value is abstract, fluxuating, and dependent on the cultural feedback loop.dependent on the cultural feedback loop.It combines It combines primary necessityprimary necessity with with utilityutility (abstract) (abstract)

Today, we use Today, we use moneymoney to establish value. to establish value.

Luca Fantacci – money is:Luca Fantacci – money is: a means of exchangea means of exchangea measure of valuea measure of valuea reserve of valuea reserve of value

All dependent on the cultural feedback loop.All dependent on the cultural feedback loop.

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

TIMETIME: a dependent variable: a dependent variable

The concept of time measures the The concept of time measures the rate of changerate of change. It . It is a is a tooltool. .

Tools are objects invented by man to interact with the Tools are objects invented by man to interact with the internal and external environment.internal and external environment.

i.e. i.e. Memory/activity requires timeMemory/activity requires time

production, distribution, consumption require production, distribution, consumption require timetime

The approach to time is fundamental in economics.The approach to time is fundamental in economics.

How does it How does it functionfunction in relation to your team? in relation to your team?

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

““Time is moneyTime is money” – an American concept” – an American concept

This is not true in real terms, but the metaphor guides This is not true in real terms, but the metaphor guides American business practices.American business practices.

Can American concepts of time, expressed and Can American concepts of time, expressed and learned in their business practices, be learned in their business practices, be appliedapplied in in other parts of the world – such as Italy?other parts of the world – such as Italy?

Why? Why not? How? i.e -Why? Why not? How? i.e - business quarters, business quarters, cost cost accounting, mark to accounting, mark to market, market, business planning, business planning, etc., etc., etc.etc., etc., etc.

Why is this an important question for Italians?Why is this an important question for Italians?

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

Answers to these questions are fundamental to Answers to these questions are fundamental to success in global business and teamwork.success in global business and teamwork.

Finding Finding functionalfunctional answers requires cultural answers requires cultural contextualisations of relationships.contextualisations of relationships.

contractual, informal, communicationscontractual, informal, communicationsconsumption, service, production...consumption, service, production...

History can help find explanations of culturally History can help find explanations of culturally specific behaviour in different regions.specific behaviour in different regions.

i.e. i.e. America America is notis not Italy Italy – why? Understand this – why? Understand this teamwork!teamwork!

What is the role of diversity in What is the role of diversity in culturally diverse teams?culturally diverse teams?

Teamwork in the global arena requires Teamwork in the global arena requires RESPECTRESPECT for for diversity.diversity.

DiversityDiversity of approach to authority, time, value, labour of approach to authority, time, value, labour

RespectRespect = = listenlistenidentifyidentify message messagecontextualisecontextualise meaning meaning TOWARDTOWARD team team

functionalityfunctionalityestablishestablish message in team context (NOT message in team context (NOT

easy!)easy!)

Diversity produces strong teams since cultural and Diversity produces strong teams since cultural and linguistic feedback loops with in the group are linguistic feedback loops with in the group are consciousely evaluatedconsciousely evaluated more often. This takes a lot of more often. This takes a lot of work! BE patient!work! BE patient!

Fewer cultural assumptions = stronger emphasis on Fewer cultural assumptions = stronger emphasis on current group current group identityidentity. Functionality = identity-building . Functionality = identity-building opportunity.opportunity.

Food for thoughtFood for thought

Businesses are culturally formed Businesses are culturally formed identity systemsidentity systems..

NONO single business system is the single business system is the right oneright one for everyone. for everyone.

Successful GLOBAL business respects Successful GLOBAL business respects identities in transitidentities in transit between local, regional and global arenas.between local, regional and global arenas.

Global business is in a Global business is in a push/pull relationshippush/pull relationship with global with global teamwork opportunities.teamwork opportunities.

Business Business benefits frombenefits from learninglearning about multiple existing about multiple existing socio-cultural and economic systems in order to build socio-cultural and economic systems in order to build effective NEW interactional business contexts = better effective NEW interactional business contexts = better teamwork teamwork better global business! better global business!

Thank you!Thank you!

Dr. Peter CullenDr. Peter CullenLanguage and Culture for BusinessLanguage and Culture for Business

Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature University of Urbino Carlo BoUniversity of Urbino Carlo Bo

www.cl4englishlistening.wordpress.comwww.cl4englishlistening.wordpress.competer.cullen@uniurb.itpeter.cullen@uniurb.it