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1.0 Introduction
The case scenario is all about the twist that happened in a U.S.-owned
manufacturing company which is located in Taiwan. Jack Sparrow is a successful US
manager who brought numerous changes in that company in order to upgrade the
company performance within a short term period. However, some incidents were
happened out of Jacks control. Fire in warehouse, fatal accidents which involved local
plant supervisors wife and his two children, and also accident in assembly line are the
incidents that happened. Company safety record shouldnt be blamed due to the past
excellent report. Rumors start spreading like fire and the number of workers starts to
voluntary absent without valid reason is also increased. In order to solve this problem,
and maintain company reputation, Jack Sparrow planned to review the safety procedures
by hiring expertise, meanwhile Taiwanese supervisors feel to bring priest to have prayers
in company. One feel suggestion is inadequate and another thinks its irrelevant to the
problem. Meeting ended without any agreement because both of them not able to do
make a mutual decision due to contradict opinion that they suggested.
2.0 Problem Identification
There are several problems occur in this case scenario. First, a few incidents was
happened within last several months such as fire in warehouse, automobile accidents and
minor accident on the assembly line. These incidents happened continuously has leads to
the spread of rumors about the plant being cursed in the company. This has resulted in
workers deactivate to go for work. In the process of problem solving, Jack Sparrow has
different opinion with Taiwanese supervisors because of their cultural distinction. They
do not agree with each other opinion because of their contradicted view about the cause
of these incidents. US parties are more rational to determine the incidents are caused by
insufficient of safety procedure whereas for the Taiwanese, they are more superstitious in
judging these incidents.

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3.0 Comparison between U.S and Taiwan
3.1 Internal VS External

One of the Trompenaars dimensions which is internal vs external is most suitable

to describe this case scenario. This dimension is all about human nature relationship
where shows how people from different countries relate to their natural environment and
changes.
According to Serigiu Balan and Lucia Ovidia Vreja( 2013), inner directed culture
which is inclined by US people, who think of nature as a complex mechanism that is
immense, but can be controlled if they have right expertise. We can see this in the case
scenario where Jack Sparrow, manager from US belief that with the right expertise who
have from insurance they able to solve the company problems through reviewing the
safety procedures. Internalistic people believe what happens to them is their own doings.
Example from the case scenario, Jack Sparrow feels that what happened to his company
is just because of the lack in their safety procedures. Other than that, internalistic people
do not have believe in luck or predestination. We obviously can see in the case scenario,
where Jack Sparrow feels the incidents happens is neither predestined nor fate and thinks
the prayer wouldnt make any changes to company conditions. Moreover, internalistics
people believe human can dominate nature. In the case scenario, even though the
incidents that happened is unrelated and looks like naturally dominated, but Jack Sparrow
feels by using all his knowledge, information, and intelligence, can solve the problems.
Confidence is seen as power and the key ingredient behind image in internalistic culture.
As we can see in the case scenario, US have confident in themselves and feel they are
capable to settle the problem.
On the contrary, when talk about outer directed culture people believes that man is
part of nature and must go along with its laws, directions and forces. (Adler, 2002) In the
case scenario, Taiwanese people who possess outer-directed culture, feels they subjugate
by natural forces, so in order to encounter the problems, they suggested to invite the local
priest to pray for the workers, and ward off the evil forces which they believe it is

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predestined. Externalistic people believe environment can shapes their destiny. Taiwanese
supervisors believe the prayers can make changes to the company rather than sacrificing
own efforts. To the believe man can dominate nature, they take themselves as the point of
departure for determining right decision. Taiwanese supervisors feel that they might not
able to take right action against the natural forces which happened to their company. This
is why they considered Jack Sparrows suggestions as inadequate and not the correct
action towards the nature-dominated incident. Lastly, in externalistic culture, confident is
not taught as good attribute. In Taiwanese doesnt have confidence on company manger
decision, but start believing superstition.
3.2 Sequential VS Synchronic
In the sequential time culture, the people tend to understand the structure of time
is inflexible and to assign different importance to past, present and future. The value of
time is high and the order of events happening is important in this culture. The value of
punctuality as well as respecting a schedule is also accordingly high. There are very
important to be on time to work and advocated zero absenteeism in the company. People
in this culture do not prefer absenteeism in their life. U.S is a country with sequentialtime cultures. U.S people place high value on punctuality and time is money for them. In
the case scenario, Jack Sparrow is an U.S people who see time as money. He is a fast
mover person which he solve the problem effectively and efficiency by call back his chief
and staff to deal and discuss the problem that had faced in their company. He like to solve
the problem with rapid action for prevent the absenteeism of the workers. However, in
the synchronic time culture, people see the past, present, and future as interlocked
periods. So, the synchronic culture people view time is a flexible frame. Time is flexible
and intangible for the people with synchronic culture. Taiwanese who are synchronism
believe that the time is flexible in how you approach the works and view the absenteeism
as common thing in their life. Base on the case scenario, the Taiwanese employees in the
company began absent to work after they have hearing the rumours about the plant are
being cursed by evil priest. They seem absenteeism as normal and bring nothing to them.
3.3 Universalism VS Particularism

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Universalism represents a people that absolutely to apply rules, codes, values and
standards with irrespective of circumstances and situations. (Browaeys and Price, 2011).
Universalistic people take precedence on apply rules rather than the relationships and
deem the whole universe of members can apply the rules equally. In a universalistic
society, people tend to be rational, professional arguments and presentations. There is an
evidence shown in this case scenario that, Jack Sparrows American staff suggest that
some experts from the insurance company come in to review the safety procedures to
avoid same incidents happened again. In addition, U.S staff is a universalistic people who
are more focus on rules than relationship. In this case, American staff feels that the need
of safety procedure in company should be followed because they are believed that the
rules are used to judge the right. Moreover, the universalistic cultures consider that only
one truth or reality will be consent. Based on the case scenario, there is a meeting
between U.S and Taiwanese supervisors but it is ended without any substantial agreement
because U.S people think that there is only one outcome in an agreement. They are stand
on their own view and do not agree for each other suggestion.
Nonetheless, according to Browaeys and Price (2011) stated that particularism is
describe a people who consider circumstances and relationships are more important.
Particularistic cultures emphasize on the relationship, special achievement and look at the
situation when deals with other people. Furthermore, particularistic cultures liketo be
prepared for personal irrelevancies that do not seem to be observed anywhere else. In this
case scenario indicated that the Taiwanese people are particularistic because they have
suggested bringing local religious priest into their company that considering as adequate
actions to ward off evil forces. Particularistic people think that different people have
diverse opinion about the reality. There is an evidence in this case scenario reveal the
Taiwanese people has their own view that it is adequate to carry out rituals and pray but
they do not just simply follow the suggestion of U.S people even though they are in
higher position. Besides, particularistic people tend to more emphasizes on relationship
rather than rules if compared with universalistic people like U.S people. Thus, due to the
Taiwanese people are more emphasizes on relationship, so they try to avoid any quarrel
or disputes with U.S staff during the meeting.

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3.4 Individualism VS Collectivism
The second difference between U.S and Taiwan is individualism vs collectivism.
According to Luthans& Jonathan (2012), individualism is the tendency of people to look
after themselves and their immediate family only. People with individualism culture
tend to have greater individual initiative. Example that shown in our case study is Jack
Sparrow that comes from U.S has initiative to make a lot of changes in Taiwan plant
operation. Individualism societies more focus on self-achievement. Jack Sparrow makes
decision on the spot without refer back to headquarter in U.S. By doing these matters, he
expects that production and worker satisfaction can be increased and prove his ability to
the top management team. While for collectivism is means the tendency of people to
belong to groups or collectives and to look after each other in exchange for loyalty
(Luthans& Jonathan, 2012). Collectivism people such as Taiwanese often show caring
and respect to their subordinates and friends. In this case study, after several incidents
happened, the Taiwanese supervisors more concern and worry about their subordinates
since they are more family-oriented by treat them as a larger group and family. Taiwanese
people are more protective against others just like the supervisors suggest that some
precautions need to be taken such as hiring a local religious priest to prevent any bad
things happen again to their subordinates.
3.5 Uncertainty Avoidance
The next dimension is uncertainty avoidance which illustrates the degree of
society members feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguityand how they deal
the unknown fact in the future.U.S is a low uncertainty avoidance country which U.S
people are willing to take more risk in managerial in order to gain the returns from it
because they believe the concept of no risk, no return. In this case scenario has shown
that Jack Sparrow as a manager who has taking more risk typically while manage the
company in Taipei. He may chooses the strategic that able to offer high reward for him by
changing plant operation in Taiwan manufacturing company. Besides, Jack Sparrow is a
person of less hesitation during decision making in business run due to the reason of the
higher the uncertainty, the higher the return for the company. In contrast, Taiwan country
tends to be high uncertainty avoidance. Based on the case scenario, absenteeism has
rising caused by few incident that has happened and rumours about evil spirits cursed the
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plant, Taiwanese staffs fell not have any motivation to work because insecure in working
place. They do not want to go for work before the problem solve due to their less risk
taking and more concern about security. For Taiwanese, they prefer doing routine work
and work in more static work places and in safe environment but they do not like
surprise or changes make in their work placebecause it may be bringing the risk for
them.
4.0 Recommendations
Jack Sparrow should accepts the opinion from both parties, US staff and
Taiwanese supervisors since there are different opinions to solve the problems. First, Jack
Sparrow as a manager of the manufacturing company should play the role as a leader by
giving a very clear instruction and the reason why it is critical to hire insurance experts
to review the companys safety procedure. Jack Sparrow shows his caring on the safety
and security of his subordinates.
Before Jack Sparrow as an expatriate in Taipei, he needs to improve his
knowledge about Taiwan culture empathy. He will not experience cultural shock when
Taiwanese supervisors recommend bringing in local religious priest. Besides, Jack
Sparrow also needs to provide training to Taiwanese employees about the knowledge of
safety in the workplace. Therefore, they can handle unexpected situation steadily when
any incident happened.
In addition, Jack Sparrow must also respect to Taiwan local religious and
beliefs. As mentioned in this case scenario that Taiwanese supervisors suggested bringing
in local religious priest. By allowing them to carry out the rituals and pray, Jack Sparrow
able to gain trust from Taiwanese workers and hence they will not simply absent from
their work. This will leads workers feel safe and to be at ease in the work place. Thus, it
can strengthen the relationship between US manager and Taiwanese supervisors.
5.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that, in negotiations one must respect other partys
opinion rather than ignoring their ideas. We must understand other cultures through
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cultural dimensions study so that we able to tolerate the elements that distinguish two
cultures, to achieve win-win situation in negotiation. Overall it can be summarized that
American are more focusing on rules, greater individual initiatives, confident, on the
other hand, Taiwanese is more focus on relationship, group oriented, lack of confidents
and more. If both understand each other culture, the substantial agreement can take place,
and together they can improve company reputation and achievement too.

6.0 References