Here is a 10-statement test of how effective a global enterprise
your current company is (or a past one was). Please select one of the options for each statement and add up the
scores shown next to your selection. It’s ok to skip some of the statements.
At my company, when I work with employees or partners who are
located in other countries, I
(5 points) - get to meet them quite
frequently.
(3 points) - meet them occasionally.
(1 point) - rarely get to meet them.
When I am sent on a business trip to a country I haven’t
been to before, my company will
(5 points) - first extensively train me
on all relevant cultural
aspects.
(3 points) - encourage me to talk with someone who knows
the country’s culture.
(1 point) - rely on my common sense to be effective.
The percentage of my company’s top executives who have
previously worked in another country is
(5 points) - more than 50 percent.
(3 points) - between 25 and 50 percent.
(1 point) - less than 25 percent.
My company’s internal culture
(5 points) - promotes national cultural
differences and
embraces those of foreign teams.
(3 points) - is strong enough to balance out the influence
of foreign national cultures.
(1 point) - is so strong that it mostly erases the influence
of any foreign country’s national culture.
When starting an international subsidiary or partnership,
manage- ment at my company will
(5 points) - be prepared to first spend
significant time to build
effective relationships.
(3 points) - recognize the need to build relationships but soon
focus on results.
(1 point) - have very little patience for upfront relationship
building.
My company offers cross-cultural training for employees with
international contacts, such as “Doing Business in Asia”,
(5 points) - frequently and for several
different cultures.
(3 points) - selectively and only for a few different cultures.
(1 point) - rarely or not at all.
When it comes to developing new ideas or products, people at my
company
(5 points) - generally don't care whether the
contribution comes
from within or outside of the company.
(3 points) - will occasionally accept outside solutions.
(1 point) - prefer to do everything themselves.
My company’s efforts to make domestic teams work effectively
(5 points) - include exploring the cultural
background of all
team members.
(3 points) - focus on U.S. minority groups (e.g., African
Americans and women).
(1 point) - are limited or nonexistent.
At my company, having international experience from living in other
countries is
(5 points) - often a strong career booster.
(3 points) - probably helpful for one’s career.
(1 point) - mostly irrelevant for one’s career.
At my company, if disagreements arise with a foreign partner over
the right course of action,
(5 points) - a mediator will identify a
solution both sides can
support.
(3 points) - each has a fair chance of winning the argument.
(1 point) - our top management will do what it takes to get it
our way.
Test Result
Please add up the scores for each of the options you selected, then
divide the total score by the number of statements you answered. There are ten statements. If, for example, you skipped one
of them, then divide the total score by 9.
When ready, please
click here to learn about your company's effectiveness as a global enterprise.
