out compensation, work rules, and the conditions of employment for several years. In other
countries, the agreements are made with the government and employers, sometimes for only one
year because of political and social issues.
• Competitive relations: In the United States, management and labor traditionally take the roles of
competing adversaries who often clash to reach agreement. In many other countries, tripartite
bargaining occurs between the national government, employers’ associations, and national labor
federations with little conflict or obstruction.
Multinational organizations focus on developing employees who can manage people and operations in
diverse environments. Competencies needed for global leadership are more complex than those focused on
only one country. In addition to core leadership skills such as future orientation, empathy and concern for
others, ethics and integrity, and team development, the global leader must also be able to work across
cultures and contexts. Managers operating in a global setting need to manage paradoxes, appreciate the
unique attributes of each context, and communicate effectively across time and geography.
A series of studies on global leadership, commonly known as the GLOBE studies, resulted in the
identification of leadership profiles for various societies or cultures. Different leadership styles may be
required to successfully lead organizations in various countries. Leaders who recognize and value diverse
cultures will be more effective than those who view the world from only one perspective. Consulting
company I4cp recommends incorporating the following elements into a global development plan:
1. Make global cultural fluency an organization-wide priority.
2. Tap into the best minds inside and outside of the organization to share knowledge and stories.
3. Offer a diverse slate of hard and soft skills development.
4. Leverage strategic workforce planning to determine skills gaps and to identify candidates for
succession plans from the global workforce.
Leadership development programs for diversified MNEs should include participants from both developed
and emerging economies. Managers from developed countries can learn firsthand about distinct cultural
attributes from representatives working in less-developed countries. Likewise, those from emerging
economies can interact with participants from developed nations and learn about the organization’s