BRAZIL & SOUTH AFRICA RESERCH ASSIGNMENT

Purpose

This exercise will help you understand the critical factors influencing leadership and business operations in a different cultural and economic environment. Imagine the following scenario:

Youve just been promoted to lead a team at your organizations overseas locationcongrats! To help you hit the ground running, your supervisor has asked you to create an executive summary about the region where you’ll be working. This isnt just a research projectits a practical exercise that will help prepare you to navigate and understand the complexities of leading/working in a different cultural, economic, and legal environment.

By the end of this assignment, youll:

• Gain an understanding of key factors that can impact a leadership role in another country.
• Practice analyzing and presenting information thats directly relevant to real-world business scenarios.
• Hone your ability to communicate essential information clearly and effectively.

What You Need to Do

Choose a country! Reminder: Imagine you have been promoted to lead a team at your organizations overseas location. Your supervisor has asked you to prepare for this position by creating a professional, visually appealing executive summary. This summary should contain essential facts and insights about the region in which you will be working. Your task is to create a polished, visually appealing executive summary that covers the following key areas for your selected country:

1. Region Overview

• Facts & Statistics: Gather essential information including population, population density, major cities, geographical features, climate and other relevant data. Include comparisons to the U.S. where it makes sense (e.g., comparing the size of a city or country to a U.S. city or state).
• Economic Data: Provide details on the GDP, major industries, imports/exports, currency, and any recent economic trends. Again, offer comparisons to U.S. data when possible.
• Cultural Etiquette: Highlight key social norms, business etiquette, and communication styles and tips on how to navigate these norms. Think of this as providing a how not to embarrass yourself or your company guide.
• Note: You may choose any country in the book — however, do not choose a country you have already selected/focused on for another LDR 160 assignment this semester.

1. Hofstede Cultural Dimensions & Analysis

• Provide the Hofstede scores for the country. Include a screenshot of the country-to-U.S. comparison graph.
• [Link to Hofstede Country Comparison Tool — if the link doesn’t work, Google “Hofstede Country Comparison Tool”
• In your own words, explain what these scores mean for someone in a leadership position. For example, if the country scores high on Power Distance, how should you approach decision-making?
• Dont forget to compare these scores to the U.S., and pick out at least two major cultural differences between the two countries. [Tip: Review the details about the cultural dimensions on the Hofstede website to inform your explanation. Cite the website!]

1. Legal and Political Environment

• Pertinent Laws: Identify any key legal issues that could impact your work, like labor laws, anti-corruption regulations, or business registration requirements.
• Significant Current Issues: Mention any political or social issues in the country that could affect your leadership role.

1. Religious and Social Considerations

• Discuss any major religious practices that might influence business interactions.
• Point out any significant social issues that could be relevant to your work, like cultural norms regarding gender roles or social hierarchies.

1. Leadership Profile

• Choose a real-life leader from this country who is recognized as a strong leader and exemplifies the characteristics needed to lead effectively in this region.
• Give a brief overview of their background/biography and leadership style. Explain why they are effective in their cultural context.

What a Good Project Looks Like

Your briefing document will be evaluated based on the following:

• Accuracy & Relevance: Make sure your information is up-to-date, accurate, and directly relevant to someone in a leadership position.
• Clear Organization: Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make your document easy to read. Dont make me hunt for informationeverything should be easy to find and understand.
• Comparative Analysis: Include comparisons to the U.S. where applicable (e.g., currency conversions, cultural differences) and real-life comparisons for perspective (e.g., Ireland is the second largest island in Europ and its surface area is similar to the US states Utah or Indiana)
• Visual Appeal: Include visuals like charts, graphs, and tables to break up text and make your document more engaging. Just make sure theyre clear and labeled.
• Real-World Application: Think practicallywhat information would you actually want to know if you were moving to this country tomorrow?
• Citations: Properly parenthetically cite all your sources in APA format (i.e., in-text citations). This includes any visuals or data you use.
• References: Include a reference slide/page that alphabetically lists the in-text citations (sources cited) within the body of your work. HERE IS THE CLASS WORKBOOK – Kessler, E. H. & Wong-MingJi, D.J. (2009). Cultural Mythology and Global Leadership. Edward Elgar Publishing,

Reminder: an page is included in Module 0

How to Submit

You can complete this assignment using Word or PowerPoint. If youd like to use a different format, just run it by me first. Make sure your final document looks professional and is ready to present to senior management.

A Few Extra Tips

• Use Visuals Wisely: Charts, graphs, and tables are greatjust make sure theyre clear and that you explain what they show. If its not obvious, its not useful. Also, cite the source if you use a graph originally published elsewhere.
• Think Comparatively: Whenever you can, provide context by comparing your data to the U.S. For example, if the country has a GDP of X, how does that compare to the U.S.? Or, compare the country’s size to the US (or a US state)
• Cultural Differences: When discussing cultural etiquette or Hofstede scores, remember to identify at least two key differences between the culture of this country and the U.S.
• Stay Practical: Pretend youre actually moving to this countrywhat would you need to know to live and work there and to do your job effectively (and avoid major faux pas!)?