Operating in a Global Environment

Manager Discussion Guide

Objectives
Participants will acquire the strategies for effectively operating across cultures and
countries in virtual teams. By the end of the session they will:
• Acquire skills needed to communicate in a multi-cultural environment
• Understand the evolution of a global corporation and discuss the behaviors
needed to move CVG forward
• Identify behaviors that lead to a high trust environment
• Devise a personal action plan for operating as a member of a productive virtual
team

The result of this course is that participants should be able to recognize cultural
differences within their team and use the most effective course of action based on the
situation.

Your Expectations
As the participant’s manager, consider the following suggestions:
• Have a conversation to discuss what your employee learned and how it will
increase job performance
• From the answers to the following questions, help the employee create an Action
Plan

1. What is your reaction to the Evolution of a Global Corporation matrix?

2. How can you continue to move yourself and your team to Phase 4?

3. What is the biggest struggle to working virtually? What can be done differently to
overcome that?

4. How do you build trust? (i.e. give it out as earned or give it out at the beginning &
take it back if broken; through performance, integrity, concern for others)

5. What can you do to improve trust with others, especially those with a different
building trust style?

6. What idea in Cultural Reconciliation did you find most useful?

7. How can you use it to your advantage as you work multi-culturally?

Revised 07/14/2006
Action Plan
Use the table below as a guide to create and formalize an action plan with your employee. Writing down and agreeing to
an action plan with your employee is a critical part of ensuring knowledge gained in this training is successfully and
meaningfully transitioned back to the workplace. Make sure that your action plan lists specific, relevant details on
responsibilities, timing and deadlines, project planning, etc. THE FOLLOWING ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR 
DISCUSSION AND NOT MEANT TO BE AN ALL INCLUSIVE ACTION PLAN.

Development Observable Behaviors Suggested Measurements

Goal Supporting Goal to Confirm Goal Attainment Action Plan
Establish virtual Better communication • Decreased rework • Conduct a meeting to establish
team norms among team members team norms around working virtually
using the VTRG
Build bonds and Better communication • Increased productivity • Incorporate “social time” into
trust between among team members • Increased retention meetings to learn about each other
team members • Collect and distribute a list of special
days (birthdays, anniversaries,
holidays, etc.)
• Administer the trust assessment in
Virtual Team Resource Guide
• Use the results of the assessment to
modify behavior