Camino al infierno

2.1. The problem

The main problem of this enterprise is that it is an American and west European company in an west Indies region. The racial problem is obvious. The man who is wanted to come in the front of this Barracania branch, Rennalls, has a lot of political influence ' by being the son of the minister of finance and economic planning ' and is also the most fit for the job ' studied at London University where he had taken first-class honors in the BSs engineering degree, but has only one defect, he is a local.

The person who must promote this young man is John Baker, an english expatriate who has been working in this domain for several years. The mistake made by Baker is huge. During the interview he insults Rennalls by saying that his people do not have as much experience in commerce as the europeans and the americans do.

2.2 Negative effects

The father of Rennalls occupies an extremely important position in the Government. He also felt offended by the words of Baker and has the power to stop the company’s activity in Barracania.

2.3 Causes

By wanting too much to connect with Rennalls and to find out about his racial consciousness, John Baker made some big mistakes.

The issue of the racial discrimination is extremely sensitive in this case.

Another cause of this conflict is the fact that Baker forgot about the position that Rennalls father occupied and acted as a foreign that only tries to prove that Barracanians are inferior.

3. Alternative solution

Solution A

Mr. John Baker should remain in charge due to the rough discussion that determinate Mr. Rennalls to resign. This will not be accepted by the European, who by his culture would not consider himself guilty for the interview that went wrong. In this way, The Company will lose a great young becoming leader in terms of Rennalls who is extremely proud to recognize his mistakes.

-lost of a local skillful chief

-the oppose of Mr. Baker that would not want to remain in position.

Solution B

Mr. John Baker should right back a letter to Mr. Rennalls in order to rearranged diplomatic peace and get the Barracanian back. This will help the company who will earn back a skillful chief by his talent and also by his father’s position. The disadvantage of this solution is that the authority of Mr. Baker will decrease enormously due to the fact that the gesture of Rennalls seemed to be as a smug react of the younger.

+in write should have a positive effect

+his father should appreciate that Mr. Baker sent him in person the letter

-the possibility of having a short deny letter or not having an answer at all

-could not see the real reaction face to face

-decrease of authority

Solution C

Mr. John Baker will write a letter to Mr. Rennalls, the minister of finance and economic planning in order to make himself understood that his last intention was to insult his son and by that all his culture.

+in write should have a positive effect

+his father should appreciate that Mr. Baker sent him in person the letter

-the possibility of having a short deny letter or not having an answer at all

-could not see the real reaction face to face

Solution D

Mr. John Baker should make an extraordinary meeting in same day with Rennalls and explain in a diplomatic way what he adopt the plus and minus strategy in order to evolve to a higher competitive standard.

+ the reaction is live, face to face

+they both should adopt a diplomatic way, like they were used to

-decrease in authority for Mr. Baker, that by no means insult him

4. Optimal Solution

The optimal solution would be Solution D: Mr. John Baker should make an extraordinary meeting in same day with Rennalls and explain in a diplomatic way what he adopt the plus and minus strategy in order to evolve to a higher competitive standard.

Comparison: Optimal Solution versus Solution A

Advantages

• By choosing the optimal solution and by forcing member to work together they will become aware of the needs and customs of each other’s.

• The viability of solution A is too little. The optimal solution will develop the understanding and will raise cultural awareness of existing members. This solution will not only solve the appointment and communication problems that exist this very moment but will also solve future dissensions.

Disadvantages

• The cultural dissensions may be more powerful when relocated in another culture

Comparison: Optimal Solution versus Solution B

Advantages

• Solution B offers a diplomatic resolution of the emerging contradictions between the two cultures while the optimal solution is still risky of a new insult

• A more subjective dimension would conclude in understanding one’s culture, tradition and practice, while through a single employee the case would be of objectivity.

Disadvantages

• Sending letters takes time; the problem will not be solved in real time.

Comparison: Optimal Solution versus Solution C

Advantages

• The decisional process, although easy through a combination of the two cultures, would take place faster if only one person is empowered with this capacity

Disadvantages

• Sending letters takes time; the problem will not be solved in real time.

5. IMPLEMENTING THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION

5.1 Resources

As the optimal solution would be a meeting between John Baker, Matthew Rennalls and the senior staff members, the company doesn’t need any resources available.

5.2 Minimizing the disadvantages

Caribbean Bauxite is eager to promote Barracanians to senior positions, there for a new meeting between Mr. Baker and Mr. Rennalls is mandatory in order to make the latter change his mind concerning the resignation. This can only be possible if Mr. Baker explains to Mr. Rennalls that he didn’t mean to offend him or any other Barracanian. The first should send an official letter, apologizing and asking Mr. Rennalls to come to the meeting in order to clarify the matter. Mr. Baker should be very careful when sending the letter. He should choose his words carefully, showing Mr. Rennalls that he respects Barracanians and is willing to put behind him all the harsh words that were said in the resignation letter. Mr. Baker should also ask Mr. Rennalls whether he would like to meet with the senior draftsman, Jackson in order to discuss about their problems.

5.3 Steps of implementation

First of all Mr. Baker as Chief Engineer to Caribbean Bauxite should have achieved much more experience than he proved in handling the interview with Mr. Rennalls. The major barrier was the cultural difference between the Europeans and the Barracanians.

Second of all, the promotion of Mr. Rennalls should have had a different approach. All the problems with Mr. Jackson should have been solved before this interview and the best way was face to face.

However another senior member of the company should have been present in order to anticipate any polemic between the two or any other misunderstanding.

The “plus and minus” technique was not used appropriately as Mr Rennalls understood something else. The interview should have been very open but this was not very easy, as Mr. Baker wasn’t able to break the communication barrier between him and the assistant. Therefore the approach was harder than expected. So before leaving the company he should have assured that his relationship with his assistant was not only formal, but very tight.

Another problem was the way of saying things. As Mr. Rennalls should have been promoted only for his abilities and appreciations, but the huge mistake was to talk about the differences of their cultural and history sides which offended.

In order to conclude this, the departure of Mr. Baker should have been made cautiously to prevent any misunderstanding cases such as this one and the promotion of Mr. Rennalls should have been discussed long time ago.

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