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MULTINATIONAL CULTURAL INTEGRATION
One of the most challenging changes an
enterprise can face is a merger or acquisition in which different cultures
must work together as an integrated entity. This was the situation faced
by a longtime client of Executive Synergies. A new CEO and officer of
an acquisition/merger independent company sought our assistance in helping
the group function more effectively as a single unit.
The situation was uniquely challenging
in that the new organization had been formed by the merger of agriculture,
chemical and herbicide businesses. And it was exacerbated by the fact
that executives now having to form a single management team came from
headquarters from three different countries with fairly dissimilar work
styles and cultures. As an outgrowth
of our working with the new team, we developed a highly customized retreat
for these executives representing all three formerly independent companies,
including senior executives from five countries.
We held a blend of strategic planning and
working sessions, interspersed casual, informal activities with executives
and their guests. In this situation, the social interactions served to
highlight and clarify more quickly than might otherwise have occurred,
the national/cultural differences involved. During the working sessions,
the differences in corporate cultures became clear. Having seen, and identified
it, the team was better able to understand their implications for corporate
behavior and performance. This enabled them to document desired team behaviors
and processes that would help them operate effectively across cultures,
countries and industries.
A few months after the retreat a senior executive abruptly resigned. The
CEO was about to leave the meeting to fly home and deal with the crisis,
but was reminded by his fellow officers during a telephone call of their
retreat commitment to function as a cohesive team. He agreed to stay the
course and empower his executive committee to act in concert with their
mutually agreed to strategic goals. Their new operating principles were
tested and proved successful in developing an effective company culture.
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