Rithik Gireesh

Sec- A

23rd January 2021

Organizational behavior

Prof. Anindita chatterjee

1-If you calculate the person-hours devoted to IBM’s team projects, they amount to more
than 180,000 hours of management time each year. Do you think this is a wise investment
of IBM’s human resources? Why or why not?

Ans: yes I believe it is a very wise investment to devote long hours to such team projects
because I think these teams have helped the company to expand internationally by bringing a lot
clients and also by widening the possiblity of acquiring new clients through helping the local
organizations of that place. There is evidence that such multinational teams are more productive.
Nowadays various successful and giant companies are investing heavily on multicultural and
multinational teams with members from different cultures possessing different competencies and
skills, since teamwork has become a very essential skill in today’s dynamic global environment.
Such team based projects helps the employees to learn leadership skills and provides them with a
chance to learn from people of different competencies and skills who are from different
backgrounds and culture. These teams also help to bring a global perspective to new potential
ideas. So it could be said that the return on investment on the teams is extremely high in many
parameters proving that the company have made a very wise decision to invest in multicultural
and multinational teams.

3. Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project

teams? Why or why not?
3. Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project
teams? Why or why not?
3. Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project
teams? Why or why not?
2-Would you like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project teams?
Why or why not?

Ans: I would certainly like to work on one of IBM’s multicultural, multinational project teams. I
think it would a great opportunity to tremendously improve my leadership qualities, as I believe
it would take exceptional efforts to manage and lead a team of different cultural and
geographical backgrounds. Moreover it would throw more light on the finer nuances of decision
making process given that there would be feedbacks and observations from people who are from
different parts of the world. I would also have the opportunity to visit various counties and learn
about their cultures and different lifestyles, giving me a global exposure. This could enhance my
expertise in dealing with international clients and employees. Again the experience and
knowledge I could gain by working with such teams would be a massive asset for my future
career and could boost up my value.

3-Multicultural project teams often face problems with communication, expectations,

and values. How do you think some of these challenges can be overcome?

Ans: Given that every member of the team comes from a different cultural and geographical
background, a multicultural team could face with several obstacles and barriers and it is indeed a
huge challenge to overcome them. To begin with, everyone should try to understand each other’s
intentions, messages and expectations and clearly express their own. Everyone must be vigilant
not misinterpret what others are conveying and everyone must remember to respect each other’s
cultural values and differences. A formal training session should be provided to every member
on such things before sending them to these team projects. By selecting a team leader who is a
multilingual can essentially resolve conflicts’ to an extend that could arise from language
barriers but a better solution would be bring along translators or to choose team members who
knows a common language because if the team members cannot understand each other then the
whole initiate would be meaningless. Proper guidance should be given by a competent leader on
how build up mutual trust and embrace the diversity.

diversified team which can coup-up with any culture and do the work effectively.
There are some benefits of this program as follows:
• IBM will get a problem solver and analytical thinker.
• IBMers will be able to collaborate globally and sensitive to cultural norms and
practices.
• This program is a builder of mutual trust and understanding to achieve shared
outcomes
• Savvy (practical knowledge and ability) about personal interactions
•This team will be able to engage and nurture a team that doesn’t have an assigned
leader and also an effective communicator (appreciative of non-native language
speakers).