A Case study on multicultural,

multinational team at IBM.

BY DEBORINA BHATTACHARYYA
UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI
MBA(HR)
 ANALYSIS OF THE CASE:

This case study talks about the effectiveness of

multicultural and multinationals teams and how
these teams have helped IBM to win business and
growth opportunities in the long run.
Q.1) IF YOU CALCULATE THE PERSON-HOURS DEVOTED
TO IBM’S TEAM PROJECTS, THEY AMOUNT TO MORE
THAN ONE 180,000 HOURS OF MANAGEMENT TIME
EACH YEAR. DO YOU THINK THIS IS WISE INVESTMENT
OF IBM’S HUMAN RESOURCES? WHY OR WHY NOT?
From my opinion, I think it is a wise investment of
IBM’s human resources. Because it shows how good
an organization can change to a betterment. It also
worth because of the work showing the increase in
positive decision-making, information acquisition
and analysis, and other factors that make the
team’s outcomes more successful for IBM.
Q.2) WHY DO YOU THINK IBM’S CULTURE
CHANGED FROM FORMAL, STABLE, AND
INDIVIDUALISTIC TO INFORMAL,
IMPERMANENT, AND TEAM-ORIENTED?

IBM's adjustment in culture from formal, stable,

and individualistic to informal, impermanent,
and team-oriented was necessitated by three
items:
Changing demographics- Younger individuals
Technology- Changing technology and social
media
Product offering - From hardware to software 
Q.3) WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK ON ONE OF
IBM’S MULTICULTURAL, MULTINATIONAL
PROJECT TEAMS?
WHY OR WHY NOT?

Yes, I would like to work for multicultural, multinational

project teams.
CONTD..
 By working with other highly competent(Ability,
Knowledge, Skill to do work successfully) members
of the team.
 I will also have the opportunity to visit different
countries and learning about different cultures and
their lifestyles.
 It will also help me to develop leadership skills
which is the single most required skills in today’s
challenging business world to be successful.
 I will also get the opportunity to practically learn the
group decision-making process, effective teamwork
skills.
Q.4) MULTICULTURAL PROJECT TEAMS OFTEN FACE
PROBLEMS WITH COMMUNICATION, EXPECTATIONS,
AND VALUES. HOW DO YOU THINK SOME OF THESE
CHALLENGES CAN BE OVERCOME?

Communication have been a bigger problem and

resolution in the present world. it is also become a
part of challenge in multicultural group. These can
be solved by running meetings to expose the
working team to other cultures.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO
OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES

 Adaptation – It involves less managerial time

 Reorganize - Reduce the conflict from the

group.

 Feedback- Feedback is also an important

factor in removing the cultural conflicts from
the team.