Case Analysis: The Roau to Bell

Kiisten 0nkka

!" $%&'()*+),-" The case "The Roau to Bell" follows }ohn Bakei as he closes out
his position as Chief Engineei anu hanus ovei the ieins to Natthew Rennalls, a
young Baiiacanian.
While uiscussing both the positive anu negative aspects of Rennalls' peifoimance,
Bakei toucheu on a hot topic of Rennalls not getting along well with the expatiiates
in the company but iathei just native Baiiacanians. Bakei also iefeiences a
complaint fiom Ni. }ackson in which he saiu it was not the fiist time Rennalls was
iuue to him. Rennalls assuieu Bakei that the tieatment hau nothing to uo with the
coloi of his skin anu that he hau tieateu him no uiffeiently than he woulu have any
othei employee. The conveisation then tuineu to Bakei congiatulating Rennalls on
the ability to oveicome the challenge of facing a ueveloping anu ievolutionaiy
economic enviionment. Be went on to state that he was impiesseu with the
piogiess the Baiiacanians hau maue when aujusting to a woilu of commeice that
they have only expeiienceu ovei the last Su yeais vs. the expatiiates having been
biought up in it foi 2uu to Suu yeais. The inteiview enueu amicably.
The following moining Rennalls submitteu a lettei of iesignation expiessing fuiy
ovei the insults on the Baiiacanians.
." $)/0-,&)&" This case is a piime example of how people fiom uiffeient
backgiounus anu cultuies fail to take uiveisity into consiueiation anu insteau allow
theii peiceptions to get in the way. This stoiy focuseu on the point of view of }ohn
Bakei anu his peiception. What we misseu out on is the peispective fiom Natthew
Rennalls. Some of Bakei's message can veiy well be seen as conuescenuing to
Rennalls. Niscommunication anu misinteipietation causeu seveie consequences
that will now negatively impact the business in this case. Rennalls sensitivity
causeu him to peiceive Bakei's comment in a negative mannei uespite theie being
puie intentions. Bakei on the othei hanu knew Rennalls political views, iacial
conceins anu intoleiance of uisciimination yet still maue mistakes in how he
conuucteu the inteiview.
1" +2%,(3" "Inteicultuial miscommunication occuis when theie is a bieakuown in
communication between speakeis of two uiffeient cultuies anu languages uue to
cultuial uiffeiences anuoi sociolinguistic tiansfei," (Buang, 2u12). The opposing
views of the social inteiaction uiiectly cause inteicultuial miscommunication. This
was the case with Rennalls anu Bakei, a piime example of inteicultuial
miscommunication.

By not being cognoscente of the fact that cioss-cultuial communication is taking
place, both Rennalls anu Bakei neglecteu to take the full scenaiio into peispective.
Bakei faileu to iecognize that his woius coulu be taken the wiong way oi
inteipieteu as insulting, uespite his intention of giving a compliment. 0n the othei
hanu, Rennalls shoulu have taken into consiueiation wheie Bakei was coming fiom
in that he was tiying to applauu Rennalls foi his amazing achievements uespite his
backgiounu anu coming fiom a countiy that is newei to the economic scene in the
woilu.

It is unfoitunate that the situation took place as it uiu but impoitant to note that
both paities shoulu have been moie awaie of theii peiception in the situation. It
woulu be impoitant foi Bakei to consiuei the backgiounu of Rennalls anu his
expeiiences oveiseas attenuing the univeisity. It woulu also be beneficial foi
Rennalls to take into consiueiation the fact that Bakei has woikeu with many
uiffeient iegional teams anu his complimentaiy woius aie to be appieciateu.
0veiall, theie was miscommunication anu peiception issues on both siues.

4" *(%&'()*+),-" (focus on shoit & long teim)
In the shoit teim, it is impoitant that someone ieach out to Rennalls anu see if they
can iectify the situation. An apology on behalf of the company is ueseiveu anu it
woulu be in the company's best inteiests to see if they can ietain Rennalls foi the
Chief Engineei position. Auuitionally, the issue neeus to be auuiesseu with Bakei.
Bakei's managei oi someone fiom the uiveisity team neeus to have a conveisation
with Bakei iegaiuing the inappiopiiate natuie anu comments maue uuiing his
uiscussion with Rennalls. It is impoitant that his behavioi change immeuiately
befoie it fuithei impacts the oiganization.
In the long teim, uiveisity anu inclusion tiaining incluuing awaieness about the
vaiious cultuies iepiesenteu at the oiganization seems necessaiy. uiven the global
natuie of the company anu it's iegional staff woiking with expatiiates, I woulu like
to hope that a uiveisity council oi uepaitment alieauy exists. In the case that it uoes
not, I woulu highly iecommenu such a uepaitment be cieateu.

5" 6/77,8+" "Ignoiing uiveisity issues costs time, money, anu efficiency,"
accoiuing to the 0niveisity of Califoinia, San Fiancisco. "Some of the consequences
can incluue unhealthy tensions; loss of piouuctivity because of incieaseu conflict;
inability to attiact anu ietain talenteu people of all kinus; complaints anu legal
actions; anu inability to ietain valuable employees, iesulting in lost investments in
ieciuitment anu tiaining."

The fallout fiom the situation between Rennalls anu Bakei coulu be uisastious. Foi
one, the company has lost gieat talent. Theie is a stiong possibility they will not be
able to convince Rennalls to ietuin. Auuitionally, theie coulu be a bioauei conflict
between the company anu the countiy of Baiiacania. Seeing as how Rennalls fathei
is the Ninistei of Finance anu Economic Planning, theie coulu veiy well be fallout
politically with the company being able to uo business in Baiiacania. Lastly, is the
potential fallout of Bakeis caieei. Be has been known foi his ability of getting along
with the iegional staff at vaiious locations. Will he still be consiueieu so talenteu.
What uoes this mean foi the iest of the staff in Baiiacania once they get winu of
what happeneu with Rennalls, causing him to leave the company. It uoes not look
goou foi the Caiibbean Bauxite Company of Baiiacania.

(9:9;9<=9>

Buang, }. (2u12). Inteicultuial miscommunication: Impact on esol stuuents anu
implications foi esol teacheis. !"#$%&' ") *%+,$#-,."%&' /+0-1"'"20, 34(1), S6-
4u.

0niveisity of Califoinia, San Fiancisco. (n.u.). 51&6,7$ 89: ;&%&2.%2 <.=7$+.,0 .% ,17
>"$?6'&-7. Retiieveu fiom http:ucsfhi.ucsf.euuinuex.phppubs
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