UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF MULTICULTURAL TEAM MANAGEMENT

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 259 - 268, 30.09.2018

Nusret Sogancilar Husniye Ors

Abstract

Purpose- This study aims to explore the challenges confronted by executive
managers while managing multicultural teams, and the solutions they deliver to
cope with these matters. What is aimed to accomplish is to comprehend these
challenges from the standpoint of managers. While trying to understand the
problems and exhortations related to multicultural team management, culture and
core cultural dimensions were utilized in the study.

Methodology- Criterion sampling method, which is a kind of purposive sampling method,
was employed in the study. The data for the study was collected through 14
in-depth interviews directed to executive managers of MNCs operating in Turkey.
The questions that generate our data consist of open-ended questions. The
statements of managers were analyzed by content analysis and sorted into
corresponding categories. These categories and solutions based upon manager’s
experiences were presented accordingly.

Findings- Implications indicate that most frequently confronted challenges are
ineffective communication and misunderstandings, different working styles and
expectations of group members, and intolerance and lack of knowledge related to
diversity. On the other hand, in order to cope with these challenges, managers
state that it is significant to embrace diversity and encourage group members
to acknowledge it as well as become approachable and eager to learn more. Last
but not least communicating in the simplest form has been accentuated.

Conclusion- To sum up briefly, successful managers are expected
to possess the competency to adapt different management styles and they are
also expected to be flexible enough to switch from one to another.

Keywords

Multicultural teams, core cultural dimensions, cross-cultural management, international business, multinational companies

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