Question

Step 1: Students will prepare a list of global mindset–enhancing activities organized around two categories: (1) organizationally generated activities and (2) personal development activities.

• Organizationally generated activities: What organizational practices — interventions or conditions created deliberately by the organization — have you experienced or know that others have experienced that develop a person’s global mindset? Be specific in your description of each activity and, where possible, identify the element(s) of global mindset that improve through that activity.

• Personal development activities: Suppose someone asked you what personal steps they could take to develop a global mindset. What would you recommend? Think about ways that you have personally developed your (or have good knowledge of someone else who has developed their) global mindset. Your suggestions should say what

specific elements of global mindset are improved through each activity.

Answer 1

Organizations are expanding globally which has led to a new learning that in order to market products to or setting up business in a new region requires in-depth understanding of the people, cultures, preferences, perspectives and ways of working pertaining to the new market. Thus the ability to adapt and use the style that is most acceptable to get the job done, depending on the country, culture, and people can be defined as global mindset.

To develop a global mindset across the organization, initiatives need to be driven by management to make changes in individual attitudes and behaviors of employees, enhance managerial skills and practices focused towards diversity and inclusion, and develop policies and procedures to promote global mindset.

Certain organizational generated activities to develop global mindset are –

1) Short-term travel assignments for e.g., to be part of meetings, teams, launches, negotiations and other events. This would help managers and employees gain experience, expand awareness and develop appreciation for different places and cultures.

2) Working on international projects is another highly effective way of helping employees within the organization to develop cross-cultural management skills.

3) Training courses on “comprehensive diversity and inclusion management” reinforce global mindset and foster enhanced cultural awareness.

4) HR policies & procedures are devised and implemented in such a way that they are equitably and fairly applicable across all dimensions of diversity that is gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion and functions. Policies must also be flexible to accommodate future changes which have not risen yet.

5) Recruitment and staffing policies are more inclined towards diversity.

However, to develop a global mindset on a personal level an individual can take the following steps –

1) Learn the local language of the new market, if different from one’s own official or native language. This would help in better understanding of the people mindset and bridging the gap.

2) Enroll for a course which teaches the culture, history and behavioral aspects of people of the new market to know more about the working style and work culture of the people and market.

3) Develop intercultural empathy by building social networks with people from the new market.