This essay focuses on the members’ personal relationships. cultural differences than by substantive disagreement. They must also be cognizant of how different cultures

the members’ personal relationships.

It is imperative that global managers be able to recognize when a conflict is driven more by cultural differences than by substantive disagreement. They must also be cognizant of how different cultures perceive and manage conflict. Some of these differences are list in Table 10.5, which provides a comparison of how conflict is perceive in Northeast Asian and several Western nations, respectively.

To illustrate, among in-group members in Northeast Asian cultures, conflict is consider undesireable because it carries the possibility of harming interpersonal relations and can be face threatening. As a result, open, direct conflict between in-group members is normally avoid if possible or manage indirectly. For someone from Japan, the strong interpersonal connections within an in-group can create a sense of interrelatedness between a conflict and the members’ personal relationships. Moreover, an open conflict can result in loss of face for one or more of the group. As a result, disagreements are usually approach indirectly and resolved through lengthy discussion of the problem. And discussions can continue outside the workplace during the evening in bars and restaurants where alcohol serves as a social lubricant. If the conflict cannot be reconciled informally, Northeast Asians, driven by particularistic inclinations,

It is a well

Misunderstandings as well

as ego clashes also lead to conflicts. Every individual has a different way to look at things and react to various situations.

Mike wanted to meet Henry at the church. He called up Henry and following was the conversation between them.

Mike – “Henry, I want to meet you tomorrow at 9”

Henry tried Mike’s number a several times but could not speak to him. Mike waited the whole day for Henry and finally there was a major fight between them. For Mike 9 meant 9 in the morning whereas Henry misunderstood it for 9 in the evening and hence a major conflict between the two. It is always advisable to be very clear and very specific to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Any feedback or suggestion by an individual might not go very well with other individual leading to severe displeasure. It might hurt the ego of the other person resulting in a fight and major disagreement.