Scenario Setting: Henry Butler, the marketing manager at Sime Tyres in London, is frustrated because a

decision from the team in Thailand regarding a meeting in Geneva is overdue. Anthony Marcus, the
project manager of Alphard Consulting Inc. in Switzerland, is also anxious about the delay.

Communication Challenges: Despite sending emails requesting a decision, Henry and Anthony have not
received a response. Distance and different time zones exacerbate the communication challenges, making
it difficult to coordinate and finalize decisions promptly.

Time Pressure: With the meeting only three weeks away, there is a sense of urgency to finalize details
such as the speaker and the number of participants. However, the delay in decision-making is causing
time pressure and hindering the planning process.

Bureaucratic Constraints: Henry feels frustrated by the bureaucratic delays in decision-making, as

decisions need to be made promptly to meet deadlines and coordinate with the Swiss team.

Need for Urgency: Anthony is concerned about how to expedite the decision-making process and push the
team to make prompt decisions given the time constraints and impending deadline.

Remote Collaboration Challenges: The geographical distance between the teams in London, Thailand,
and Switzerland complicates the decision-making process, as face-to-face interaction and immediate
communication are not possible.

Potential Solutions: Henry and Anthony may need to explore alternative communication channels such as
video conferencing or phone calls to facilitate quicker decision-making. Establishing clear deadlines and
responsibilities for decision-making can also help expedite the process.

Cultural Considerations: Understanding cultural differences in communication styles and decision-

making approaches between the teams in different countries is essential for effective collaboration and
decision-making.

Leadership Role: Both Henry and Anthony may need to take a proactive leadership role in driving the
decision-making process forward, ensuring that all team members are aware of the urgency and
importance of timely decisions.
Reflection: The scenario highlights the challenges of distributed decision-making processes in a
globalized business environment and underscores the importance of effective communication, leadership,
and collaboration strategies to overcome these challenges.