Intercultural Conflict in the Workplace: every Organization's Nightmare

Conflict is a clash of values that is a common occurrence in the workplace. Add ethnic, geographic and lingual diversities to the conflict, and it will become the stuff of every organization's nightmare. Not to mention, the International Assignee's too.

More and more executives are expected to work internationally, hence business and social contacts between people of various nationalities increased. As these people come from disparate cultural backgrounds, geographical barriers gave way to communication barriers that lead to tensions and conflicts.

Intercultural Clash comes about when the initial stages of conflict experienced by members of a multicultural team were not sufficiently or soonest addressed. There are many reasons to this, for instance: the reluctance to confront the issue with the other party; nipping the problem in the bud soonest possible; and by allowing a trivial matter to fester. Also, there are team members who refuse to accept their failings; instead blaming others - and the entire host society for that matter - for their problems.

Intercultural Conflict in the Workplace: every Organization's Nightmare

As expounded further below, International Assignees and their fellow team members can minimize Intercultural Clashes by recognizing the contributing factors. It is entirely not possible to eliminate conflicts as there are people who flourish, or thrive, under pressure.

One may argue that I am biased against the International Assignee as evidenced under Factors Leading to Conflict below. However, studies had suggested it was mostly unhappy Assignees who cause premature repatriation. That is surely unnecessary costs to the organization; including additional expenses to expatriate replacements.

A. FACTORS LEADING TO CONFLICT

Assignees' Attitude and Mindset

1. Assignees' lack of cultural sensitivity impedes adjustments to their environment

2. Assignees' unwillingness to adapt and accept both host and other team members' cultural value systems

3. Assignees' lack of preparation for differences in cultural practices prior to assignment

4. Perceived hostile and harsh host environment that conflicts with Assignees' home values

5. Assignees imposing their assumed superior cultural values and practices onto other team members

The Environment

1. English is not the first or native language of team members which lead to a breakdown in communication

2. Corporate culture that Assignees find bewildering and illogical; or perceive as inferior

3. Team members' cultural practices contradict Assignees' deeply-held personal values or convictions

4. Assigned roles do not encourage Assignees to modify presumptions and assumptions made prior to engagement

5. Failure of [host country] Human Resources - and to a lesser extent, Assignees' Immediate Superior - for not assisting Assignees in integrating and adjusting to the environment

B. WAYS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

Support from Human Resources and Immediate Superior

1. Encourage Assignees to talk about the conflicts; and advise them they are of Personality rather than Cultural by nature

2. Advise Assignees to work on a solution

3. Organize Team-Building indoor / outdoor courses where team members get to mingle and learn about one another

4. Organize intra-departmental social events where team members get to mingle and learn more about one another

If all else fails

1. Register Assignees for e2m Cross-Cultural Coaching

Intercultural Conflict in the Workplace: every Organization's Nightmare
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Multi-ethnic and polyglot Ange Teo is the Founder-Managing Director of e2m expat etiquette mentoring, a Singapore-based Cross-Cultural Communications Solutions Provider.

Having worked with some of the world’s leading Multinational Companies and Singapore-based Small Medium Enterprises for over 20 years; Ange Teo specialises in the areas of Information Technology, Secretarial/Administration, and Human Resources specifically Executive Search / Headhunting.

For more information about e2m Cultural Intelligence [CQ]-focused Communications Solutions, please visit http://e2mentoring.tripod.com

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