Au Revoir Mrs.Williamson

Au Revoir Mrs. Williamson Case Questions 1) What are the key problems you have identified in this case (List and briefly explain). a) The characteristics and skills of the two managers * Mrs. Williamson is more likely to be an X Generation while Georges is a kind of Y Generation. * Mrs. Williamson is not a univercity graduted person while Georges has graduated from a high prestigious univercity. * Mrs. Williamson seems to be more analytical and detailed oritented while Georges wants to be * Mrs.

Williamson seems to be the wrong ExPat for a position that has to work in a joint ventured company in Paris. ) Cross Cultural Problems. * Although Mrs. Williamson was doing a perfect job in London, she couldmt continue the same level of success in Paris. 2) What do you consider the most important critical of these problems? Why? * Lack of Proper Cross Cultural Management seems to be the major problem. Because it is possible but not easy to change the skills and characteristics of a person.

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Here we see that although Mrs. Williamson is a perfect kind of manager in London, it is obvious that she is not the person to work in Paris with a younger and more educated man than herself.

We can also include organizational culture difference between the two companies also in that part too because the values that Mrs. Williamson believes in (being ethical, polite to colleagues etc. ) do not match with the values that Georges believes in (just focusing on work and do not care about the people, very much result orientation).

Although it is not directly written so, I believe since they are valuable managers in their home companies, their characteristics also represent their companies. ) What issues do you see as contributing to this problem (List and briefly explain each be specific). * Cross Cultural Training * If Mrs. Williamson had taken a cross cultural training she would (at least) know the major characteristics of French People (i. e. Georges was offended when she wanted everybody to speak English with her even she knew a little French,if she knew that speaking French could be a good ice-breaker maybe she could use her little French at least to show people that she tries. ) Even sending her to a quick French course shuld be a part of this training. On the Job Training * Since this is an important position being the liason for a joint venture in a different country, maybe after the cross cultural training, she could go and start to work there for a temporary period of time to see how the life, work, environment is there * Assessment * After these two steps,there could be an assesment of IDF HR to see if she is the right person to be the liason. * Clear job definitions * Mrs. Williamson seems to be working as a project manager (controlling the resources) while Georges seems to be working as a functional manager(having the resources).

I see some gray areas (unclear borders,authority) between the two of them in that joint venture project. If the authority was defined between the two,there would be less conflicts between them. 4) What could have been done by the various participants to avoid what you have determined to be the most important problem? * Mrs Williamson should; * ask for a cross cultural and on job training before she starts work * try to speak French with the people instead of forcing them to speak English with her.

This will help her while creating a warm bridge between her and French colleagues. * not reflect her feelings to her job when she learned Georges affair with Giselle because this effected her communication with Giselle also. * organize regular Face to Face meetings with Georges with clear agenda which has a feedback session in one of the topics. * cancel the final meeting because a major participant,Georges,was not going to be there as far as she knows. * Georges should; * smile more to Mrs. Williamson because she had come to his country.

He should welcome her in a much warmer style and be more supportive to her. * act Mrs. Williamson as an equal partner,respect her. * have regular meeting to have an open communication channel with Mrs. Williamson to * Get feedback from her * Give feedback to her instead of talking around * Get her opinions about the project to make her feel that she is an important part of the team * Delegate more tasks to her * be a role model for his sub ordinates and stop breaking the company policies,cancelling the meetings with short notices * stop forcing Mrs.

Williamson always contacting with Giselle * quickly have a word with Mrs. Williamson when he felt that Mrs. Williamson learned his affair and this effect her tasks. * Senior Managers in London should; * Get more in touch with Mrs. Williamson with telecons or Face to Face meetings. * quickly stop Georges when he started talking about the marketing campaign at the final meeting because the aim of the meeting was handling the problem of Gerges and Mrs. Williamson. Tuna Tas Executive MBA Program