By:

Afzal Habib Chanya Sodsiri Kalayanajati Napasakorn Vibulsrisajja 484 32294 26 Ongon Riabpradit Vimvadee

Problems
Business structure aspect
Korean Structure is hierarchical which impacts the understanding of relationship between consultants and client of both the Americans and the Koreansin reaching the final goal, each adopts different approaches making it hard for consensus during the way.

Management aspect
Power of authority is undefined. Jack and Ellen, the co-manager, here are not clarified of which role each person should playoverlapping of power. As a result subordinates find it confusing of whose order should they follow leading to the delays of implementation plan

Cultural aspect
Though a co-manager, Ellens views are still ignored by Jack and consequently the subordinates. This is because by culture, women in Korea are expected to be working mostly as inferior. Reason behinds this might be also that at first the Korean company asked Andrew to take the position with a strong note that it would be impossible to send a women yet Andrew could not take the offer so Ellen had to take the place instead

Communication aspect
While working, Korean consultants tend not to ask questions or express their true thoughts toward the idea because in general, Koreans regard saying no as poor etiquette and something to be avoided at all costs thus it is difficult for Ellen to get at the truth of the Korean consultants intentions.

Human resources aspect

Jack has no experiences in neither SI project nor consulting projectinstructs wrong instructions regarding the projects Also, both consulting teams lack the training program preparing for expatriates or employees at the MNC Ellen is being sent to work oversea after she has been with the company for only three months and Korean team has never been trained by their firm to work with foreigners Senior management is rather ethnocentric. Each actor thinks their national norms of doing business is more superior than another hence both are reluctant to compromise. Andrew thinks the problems arise from the inexperienced Korean consultants whereas Mr. Song, the director, argues that Ellen is the one with issues

First thing to be reconsidered is the undefined power o authority then followed by other problems

Korean Culture
Korean Culture in General
Music and Dance Food

Traditional full-course meal National classical music performing Sujecheon

Kimchi and Bulgogi

House

Traditional Sport

Clothing
Hanbok, traditional clothing

Hanok-- Traditional Korean houses Ondol: In modern usage it refers to any type of under floor heating of a room that follows the traditional way of eating and sleeping on the floor.

Taekwondo

Korean culture
Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions
" Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster." Prof. Geert Hofstede, Emeritus Professor, Maastricht University.

South Korea

60

18

39

85

75

Hofstedes Dimensions
Power Distance Index (PDI)
Korea = 60 high level of inequality hierarchical bureaucracy

Individualism (IDV)
Korea = 18 -- Collective society group-oriented

Masculinity (MAS)
Korea = 39 Femininity: a preference for relationships, modesty and caring

Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)

Korea = 85 the society is low level of tolerance for uncertainty and would like to control everything in order to eliminate or avoid the unexpected

Long-term orientation (LTO)

Korea = 75 Confucian dynamism
An acceptance of the legitimacy of hierarchy and valuing of perseverance and thrift

Doing Business with Korean people

--The quality of the relationships developed are the real key to business success Gift Giving at first business meeting
part of Korean business life Alcohol: malt whisky and brandy an appreciated gift

In the meeting
a compatibility of levels within meetings punctuality and maintain solid
Maintain good body posture during meeting

Business Communication
saying 'no' as poor etiquette Well try or Thatll be difficult is more preferable Maintain patience and politeness is necessary

 Exchanging Business card

Present your business card with both hands Express some comment on the title or position

Contract is the starting point

Flexibility -- adjustment can be made

Greeting
wait to be introduced as third party shake hands with foreign colleagues after a bow and support the right forearm with the left hand

Dress Code Appearance is very important

Look smart all the time both in formal and informal gatherings Dark suit, shirt and tie -- men Business suit or dress women

Booking appointments ahead of time

Between 10 a.m. 12 p.m. or 2 p.m. 4 p.m. Send proposals for your contact to preview

Saving face very important

Control your emotion Causing embarrassment or loss of composure can harm business negotiation

Women in Business
rare for women to succeed in business in Korea and most women work as secretaries or in poorly paid assembly line positions According to a survey by an online job search site in Korea (n=573),
57.5% experienced discrimination based on gender while looking for a job > 80% were discriminated against a promotion 50% impossible to get promoted There was a survey data collected from women (n=107) between 30 59 years old which was summarized as follows.

26.9% of women => House Wife 73.1% of women => Labor Force

11

AGE 30-39 40-49 50-59

Accounting and other clerical work 16%

Production of goods 11% Sales 44%

38

58

Teaching related services 29%

Source: www.sdi.re.kr/nfile/zcom_eng_bbs/a2007-R-35.pdf

Korean Labor Statistics

Total work time-- Females over Industrial workers > Female 19%[24th of 79] males relative to other countries
Industrial workers > Male Rank #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 Countries Amount Kenya 135% Italy 128% South Africa 122% Philippines 121% Guatemala 117% 34%[30th of 79]

Service workers > Female Service workers > Male

68%[57th of 79] 56%[31st of 79]

Agricultural workers > Female 12%[26th of 77] Agricultural workers > Male 10%[45th of 78]

Female professionals Female decision makers

34%[66th of 68] 5%[66th of 67]

Literacy > Female Literacy > Male

97%[44th of 157] 99.3%[17th of 156]

Source: http://www/nationmaster.com/country/ks-korea-south/lab-labor

Consulting Team in an Organization Chart

North America
Clients Management Team Consulting Team

Korea
Clients Management Team

Consulting Team

Subordinate

Subordinate

Subordinate

Subordinate

Differences in Consulting in North America and in Korea

Consultant-Client Relationship

Information Gathering
Consultants Roles Scope of Work Importance of Meeting the Deadline

WHAT WOULD ANDREW DO? Discussion

We need our recommended action to be mutually exclusive and serve the following purposes:
a) b)

c)

Needs to establish a more clear reporting structure (Short Run) Should realign the project so as to get it back on schedule or at least close (Short Run) Should not compromise the relationship with Joint Venture Party (Long Run)

Recommendations
Compromising between two culture for clear defined power of Ellen and Jack

Finishing work for client is set as priority

Ellen and Jack consult and discuss with each other before talking with subordinates Ellen transfer know-how to Jack and he is responsible on delegating works and coaching subordinates

Implementation
Meeting is held for Andrew, Mr.Song, Jack and Ellen to talk about the issue Ellen and Jack coordinate to coach the consultants

Inform everyone in

the JV about defined position of Ellen and Jack

180 degree evaluation of the Joint venture performance in collaboration of Ellen and Jack

For Future projects

Things could have started off much better.

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/jv_main.html

For successful Joint-Venture

Ice-breaking activities
Trust is an expectation that arises within a community of regular, honest, and cooperative behavior, based on commonly shared norms, on the part of the other members of that community.

Keep win-win agreement Leadership: Fair and credible Weekly session with psychologist Repot back to the Head together Clear duties and obligations Install suggestion boxes Termination terms & conditions

CULTURE

The key to community is the acceptance, in fact the celebration of our individual and cultural differences. It is also the key to world peace. M. Scott Peck

Conclusion

Communication,

Trust,
and

Understanding

References
http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/bestpractices/a/jointventure.htm http://madaan.com/jvsuccess.html