Global HRM: Challenges & Opportunities - Essay Sample

Introduction

Human resource management is a crucial aspect of any organization. It involves the element of the wellbeing of the employee of the employees as well as ensuring that employee becomes productive. As such, it includes aspects such as policies and laws that aim at protecting human resource. However, human resource management in the global perspective can sometimes be challenging due to issues such as cultural differences in different countries. Culture is defined as the people way of life which determines how they interact with one another and how they conduct certain activities. Cultural differences in different countries usually impact on individuals posing them a challenge while working in a foreign country as an expatriate. It is hence essential for an individual to adjust the way of relating to others in the workplace to avoid unnecessary conflict that might arise due to cultural differences on how people from the host culture handle certain aspects. On the same note, the type of human resource policies will also be impacted on by the cultural practices of a chosen country. This essay analysis some of the challenges that one can get while working in china as an expatriate, benefits of working and living there and factors that one need to consider while planning to establish a business in this country. To effectively achieve this, the cultural differences between china and the United States will be analyzed.

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There are various cultural differences between the United States and China that can challenge an individual working as an expatriate in China. The aspect of humility in China is one of the elements that can pose a challenge to an individual from the United States working as an expatriate in China. In China, the aspect of humility is emphasized on, and hence people refrain as much as possible not to talk about their achievements in public openly. Openly expressing how one has achieved in China is considered as being boastful and hence considered as a vice. However, in the United States, people are always comfortable talking about their achievements, and in return, others will be happy to hear another person individual success and praises. Besides, people in China do not only don't like praising themselves, but they also negatively respond to complements (Bryant, 2019). As such, a person working as an expatriate may feel offended by negative feedback from the Chinese whenever he/she tries to give a compliment.

The other aspect that can challenge an expatriate from United Sates working in China is how the Chinese respond in the essence of personal space. Unlike in the United States, where personal space is considered as an essential aspect, the Chinese do not see any need for personal space. For example, the Chinese will have no problem being physically close to each other in the busy workplace and hotels. Chinese people will feel comfortable while in physical contact, even with strangers in public places. However, people from the United States take personal space significant (Graf, 2016). This lack of personal contact can hence make people from the United States feel offended as they may feel as if they are being disrespected.

Communication style is the other aspect that can challenge an individual from the United States working as an expatriate in China. Chinese are very much cautious in hurting other people feeling during a conversation. As such, they always think carefully before talking about an issue to avoid misunderstanding. However, this is also detrimental because it can pose a challenge to an individual who is not conversant with their style of communication. This is because they will not disagree with once opinion directly even when they don't support it to make sure that they don't hurt his/her feeling. However, this is not the case in the United States where people will always express their opinion directly, and they will be straight forward whenever they are not in agreement to a particular view (Bryant, 2019). This kind of communication can challenge an expatriate working in China.

The aspect of hierarchy is also another aspect that can pose a challenge for an expatriate working in China. In China, the hierarchy in all areas of life is always upheld and respected. Though authority in the United States is also appreciated, the main difference is how Chinese treat those people who are at the top of the hierarchy. A good example is how Chinese communicate with those at the top management in an organization. It is perceived as being disrespectful for an individual to have direct contact with those at the top. However, this is not the case in the United States, where companies have a much flatter structure where workers from all revels have access to their superiors (Graf, 2016).

Though the Chinese culture can pose some challenges to a person working as an expatriate, it can also some that one can get as a result of working and leaving there. One of the benefit will be improving the personal relation during business transactions. Unlike in the United States where personal interaction is not considered as necessary in business transactions, socialization is taken as the first aspect in China, and then business comes after (Shenkar, Luo, & Chi, 2014). This type of socialization during a business transaction can be beneficial as it can help in building trust as well as customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The other benefit will be that Chinese culture can help an individual foster a deeper relationship than in the United States. In China, a friend is someone that you feel deeply concerned with his/her wellbeing. Chinese always feel obliged to help their friends and help favor whenever necessary. Trust is an essential aspect of friendship, and this is one aspect that one can learn from Chinese culture. Besides, this is also translated in the business where Chinese will always attempt to forge a relationship trough a connection known as guanxi (Child, & Lu, 2018). The lesson one can learn from the Chinese is the importance of establishing socialization with people whom you transact business with which will promote trust and smooth business operations in the future.

Problem-solving skill is the other benefit that one can get as a result of working and leaving in China. Confrontation in China is perceived as an aspect that can make individuals involved in it lose their faces. It is never acceptable for individuals to shout to each other during a confrontation. This can lead to damage in a relationship or lost in business. Chinese will hence consider looking for different methods of solving a conflict that will maintain their integrity and also secure their business and relationship (Adekola & Sergi, 2016). This can be a beneficial aspect to learn from Chinese culture as it can improve an individual skill of conflict solving.

Considering the Chinese culture, there are certain factors that business planning to establish its operations in china need to consider for it to be successful in China. One of them is differing human resource laws and policies that will fit the Chinese culture. Some human resource policies used in countries such as the United States may conflict with Chinese culture and hence need to be changed. For example, based on the perception of the Chinese to the aspect of hierarchy where individuals are not allowed to contact with their superior directly, Human resource management needs to come with a policy that will enable down up communication of the employees without violating the Chinese culture. There is also the aspect of conflict solving, where direct confrontation is never allowed at all (Child, & Lu, 2018). As such, it would be wise for Human resource management to come up with a strategy of workplace conflict management that is in line with the Chinese culture.

Legal protection of workers is also another aspect that needs to be considered while planning to establish a business in China. While most legal protection of workers such as the right of a safe working environment, privacy, and minimum wage for workers are similar to those in the United States, some legal protection may differ due to cultural practices. For example, legal protection of personal space and privacy may be necessary for the United States, but they may lack meaning in China. On the other hand, policies that prohibit direct confrontation may lack purpose in the United States but will have a lot of sense in China (Shenkar, Luo, & Chi, 2014).

The cultural differences can have an impact on an individual working as an expatriate in a foreign country. Comparing the United States and China, various cultural variations can challenge an individual from America working as an expatriate in China. The varying ways in how the American and Chinese perceive the essence of humility, personal space, communication style, and hierarchy are among the aspects that can pose some challenges for an individual from the United States working as an expatriate in China. Nevertheless, working and leaving in China can also benefit an individual in some ways, such as being in a position to build a deeper relationship in business as well as trust in business transactions. As it may, it is also essential to consider the factors that might impact on a company while planning to start a business in China.

References

Bryant, S. (2019). What to Know about Cultural Differences between China and the US? Retrieved from https://www.topchinatravel.com/usa-to-china/what-to-know-about-cultural-differences-between-china-and-the-us.htm

Shenkar, O., Luo, Y., & Chi, T. (2014). International business. Routledge.Adekola, A., & Sergi, B. S. (2016). Global business management: A cross-cultural perspective. Routledge.

Child, J., & Lu, Y. (2018). Management Issues in China: Volume 2: International Enterprises. Routledge.

Graf, R. (2016, September 3). 13 Major Cultural Differences Between China and the United States. Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/10-Major-Cultural-Differences---China-and-the-United-States