From
several recent conference sessions on operating in an international environment
February-March 2009
Compiled by Bonnie Koenig
You probably know – but always good to be reminded
·
To be intentionally international your organization needs to answer the question:
what do we want to be in the business of doing? and
plan accordingly. Making decisions on form/structure (for example, having
membership vis a vis partners, etc..) should follow
function (for example, engaging people for common goals, vis a vis sharing
information and selling products), not vice versa.
·
Two-way
communication mechanisms and real dialogue are critical
– no matter what governance structure your oganization has (and despite
sometimes years of international operations), it will be a challenge to ensure
that the entities (chapters, affiliates, etc…) that are separated from
headquarters are heard from in a structured and regular way. Organizations that put effort into creating
and maintaining these communication mechanisms will maximize the benefits, and
minimize the risks and tensions that are inevitably part of being an organization
that has geographically spread operations.
·
If you operate in Europe, VAT across Europe still varies and is
country specific. A major change toward harmonization to watch for is
anticipated in 2010.
·
In technical areas that are often country specific, such as
finance, legal, and shipping, having local counsel who understand the local
environment and can help you navigate it is key, and can help you avoid costly
mistakes.
Stretch Your Thinking
·
In understanding different cultures, we need to
understand why things are the way they are to respond effectively. There
are many dimensions of national culture to take into consideration (indirect
vis a vis direct; past vis a vis future; relationship vis a vis task;
situational vis a vis universal; informal vis a vis formal; collectivist vis a
vis individual; hierarchy vis a vis equality). It is well worth taking
the time to be prepared for your interactions with those in other
countries. A few interesting examples that illustrate this: 1) In the
U.S., e-mail has replaced the telephone; in Europe the business letter (i.e. a
slower and more formal means of communication so you should take more time with
your e-mails than you might with U.S. colleagues); 2) Many Western cultures are
“no negotiation” cultures; many Eastern cultures are “negotiations expected”
cultures and you should develop an appropriate negotiation strategy; 3)
Individualist societies like the U.S. can have a different approach to
hospitality than collectivist societies.
·
Challenging
economic times can also pose many opportunities. We need to balance
minimizing risk with taking advantage of opportunities. Ideally, Board
and decision makers should understand the risks behind their decisions, but not
completely shy away from risk so the organization is able to take advantage of
opportunities.
·
How will your organization leverage social
media? It is here to
stay and ‘barriers to entry’ have come down (for much of the work and
membership benefits that have traditionally been done/provided
by membership organizations). Virtual competition is increasing,
especially in a global marketplace. Should develop a strategy that works
for your organization.
Checklist for Maintaining an Organizational
Global Mindset/Orientation
·
Be clear about what
you are trying to accomplish and make sure you can articulate it to different
audiences.
·
Develop a strategy for
increasing organizational wide awareness and capabilities. Who should be
involved? What specific actions will you
take? What internal communication needs
to be fostered?
·
Develop strategies for maintaining and
increasing the commitment. How will you
expand your internal constituency?
·
Identify ‘success
measures’. How will you know that you
are making progress? How can you communicate it? How can you sustain it?
·
Always be looking for ways to bring in international
perspectives and demonstrating their value to the organization.
·
Hang a sign in your
office that asks “What did I do to increase my organization’s global mindset
today”?
Additional Resources
Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/topical/globalsociety.html
Going International: http://www.goinginternational.com/resource.htm
Gardenswartz, Lee and Anita Rowe,
2003, The Global Diversity Desk Reference. Pfeiffer.
Koenig, Bonnie, 2004, Going Global for the Greater
Good, Jossey Bass/Wiley
Svevo-Cianci, Kimberly, 1995, Associations and the
Global Marketplace, ASAE
Zwiegel, Thomas, 2003, Culture Clash: Managing the
High Performance Team, Select Books