EXPATRIATES AND MIGRANT WORKERS

Human migration denotes any movement by humans from one locality to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Humans are known to have migrated extensively throughout history and prehistory. There is to types of migration: Internal migration and International migration and can occur for several reasons, social and economic exclusion, internal conflicts, attraction by developed countries, war, among others. The truth is that is an increasing phenomenon, people seeking for better opportunities, a different future and labour migration has moved to the top of the policy agenda of many countries of origin and destination. It is estimated that there are about 80 million migrant workers around the world.

It is sad to think of leaving your land, your life, maybe your family, because you decided to, or because you had to, either way is letting behind a part of who you are, but is a reality one has to face some day, even us, with great opportunities of education, an accepted social and economic level, must leave some day and have different experiences.

There are opportunities for migrant families or children?

"The local Pennsylvania Migrant Education program is one of the most successful in the state when it comes to the number of students who go on to further their education."

"The local figures please Medina Lopez, who, as a social worker and team leader for the program, hopes to give the students all the support they need. Statistics are proof that the state- and federally funded program is working."

"They're also proof that students enrolled in the program are here legally, she said, because colleges won't accept anyone who doesn't have a Social Security number. Only those who can prove citizenship or immigration status are eligible to receive a number."

"Enrollment at the school fluctuates from year to year -- and even month to month, she said. Ethnicity of the students also varies. It's all because of the working schedule of the migrant worker."

Program ensures immigrants learning, legal
Jill Whalen. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Washington: Aug 25, 2008.

MANAGING DIVERSITY

Many differences may be found in a multicultural workforce, and managing those differences are right now the most important challenges faced by managers and their organizations. One may find differences related to gender, age, sex orientation, political o religious view and the truth is that people are not the same but always want to be treated equally representing a daily and constant challenge to the members of a company or group. Managing diversity is the capacity to accept, incorporate and empower the diverse human talents within a very diverse environment, by not doing this you incur in some problems, it could cost the company time, money and efficiency, when diversity is not well managed create tensions in the workplace and some legal actions may be taken if someone feels that her or his rights are disrespected. This challenge brings some potential problems, over protection of women and minorities, possible failure to train and coach and the language barriers, but is also possible to find some advantages if managing diversity is successful, your company provides a better service, a culture of innovation and creativity is implemented, a new environment of tolerance surround the workforce and improve their performance among others.

I think is always a challenge, not only in the workplace but also for us as students, one has to be tolerant, open minded, knowing that not everyone has to be just like you, think like you do, and act as you would, and is something we have to learn now in order to be able in the future to pass to other generations a sense of tolerance and respect because maybe someday we or them might be the victims of rejection or discrimination and by being an integral person the situation maybe faced in a better way.

¿Which is the most important aspect of managing correctly diversity within a company?

“In reality, diversity in the workforce increases creativity and helps tap into new markets nationally and internationally. Organisations who ignore this are losing out”.

a world of difference
Atul K Shah. Accountancy Age. London: Jan 10, 2008. pg. 18

EXPLORING DIVERSITY

Cultural diversity encompasses the cultural differences that exist between people. The lecture made about this topic by classmates was a great experience. The activity was very interesting, it showed different points of view, even though the ideal negotiation team is made by different people with different skills and qualities that obviously make that group an integral and complete working group, the purpose was to defend who we were and show other people why our position within a society made us the best negotiation group, for example, my team was made of entrepreneur women and our main purpose was to convince the rest of the group why we were the best group, which qualities we have that make us different from the rest and underline the best of each of the members because even though we all were entrepreneur women we were all different and with some key characteristics that made us the best work team.

¿How are women seen in the negotiation or business environment?

“Women and men negotiate differently for pay raises, promotions and salaries”. The author mentioned that even some women do not negotiate at all (which I think is not true). Women are thankful for just having a job offer, but men are more powerful knowing that in certain way, they deserve better. Not negotiating may “costs women a lot of money and status during their careers”.

“The differences in the ways women and men negotiate are often attributed to childhood socialization and genetics, but newer research suggests that women's actions may make sense in today's world”.

I think that I have to respect the perception the author have, but, I think completely different, women nowadays are more powerful than ever before, with the same or better skills than men, new generations are changing the perception of this kind of authors showing that women work force is increasing each day and the performance within any company is equally valuable among men and women.

Women and Negotiation
Elizabeth Agnvall. HRMagazine. Alexandria: Dec 2007. Vol. 52, Iss. 12; pg. 69, 5 pgs

CULTURE PERSPECTIVES

A group of people may have different perceptions toward a specific topic, movie, book, discussion etc, this happened with the documental “The Corporation” that was analyzed by few teams of four, five people in class and allowed each member to express her/himself opinion about it. It’s incredible how different those opinions might be and an important factor is to know how to listen and learn how to be argumentative with your own answers and thoughts. It’s important to keep your mind open to new ideas and other perceptions.

This last idea lead us to Kristian Jakobsen, a person who give us a very interesting lecture about culture perspectives comparing Colombian culture with Denmark culture trough Hofstede dimensions. Is different listen a person who has grown within a different culture than just read about it on a book or search data trough Internet. His experience and speech was a great added value to the class specially because of the results of the comparison made, that showed that both cultures are extremely opposite in each dimension. By understanding the backgrounds of each society is possible to explain certain kind of behavior, or why people is individualistic or why a high masculinity behavior exist. Is a very interesting exercise that could be applied to compare Colombia with other different countries and learn more about other cultures.

THE CORPORATION

1. What role should the corporation play in our lives and society, if any?

The role the corporation should play is offer to the customers or potential buyers a sense of safety and security knowing that what they are offering is made under the right law, the correct standards and always taking care of the environment, not cheating on the process they use to put finally into the market a finish product and more important It should play an educational role for future generations.


2. Should corporations be entitled to the same legal rights as individuals? Where should the line be drawn?

Yes, corporations should be entitled to the same legal rights as individuals. They have the same responsibility than a person and play an extremely important role within the society, any wrong action or behavior has a consequence in the welfare of any kind of life and no matter that a corporation is made by a group of people working together toward a common objective, they are perceived as a unique entity.


3. How can we ensure corporations are held accountable for their actions? Should individuals (directors, employees, shareholders) bear any responsibility for the actions of a corporation? If so, to what degree?

I think the only way to ensure that, is creating a stronger judiciary system that regulates the behavior of each of the corporations, or an specific organization in charge of investigate and punish if necessary. The directors or shareholders, or any in charge of create and implement the strategy by which the company is guiding it actions should bear all the responsibility for the actions of the corporations, the employees are just working for a salary having no power within the company to take important and managerial decisions but the others I mentioned before are the ones who decide which road the company will follow whether it is legal or not an must take full responsibility over it.


4. Do you think corporations are the root cause of the problem, or is it consumerism, capitalism, or all three?

I think they do not have full responsibility, it is a fault also of the consumers and the governments but the power the corporations has is so strong is more in their hands to change what is wrong.


5. Do you agree with the film’s diagnosis that the corporation is a psychopath?

Yes I do, corporations are taking decisions without having into account human effects and the way they have been acting is not accurate, they just think in profitability and it seems like a disease and obviously, profit is important to survive and keep running a business but it can`t be damaging human life, animal life, the environment, the air and future generations.

DATA BASIS AND CULTURE

It’s extremely important to take advantage of the tools the university offers to the students. Learning how to use the data basis provides new sources of knowledge and very useful information not only for this subject but also for daily life.

For an international negotiator is crucial to understand how cultures work, the differences, what makes unique a country, a person, and an organization in order to be able to perform successfully in real life. The gender, the social status, the level of education, and the experiences from the past among others factors affect human behavior and the culture.

¿ Which is the main objective of having a clear and correct corporate culture?

The main objective is having a standard by which all the workers or owners will perform their daily activities. Provides "order and communication" in order to be all in the same page, working for the same objectives and doing it in the same way.


SOURCE: Exploring issues in culture and competence
McAuley, John. Human Relations. New York: Apr 1994. Vol. 47, Iss. 4; pg. 417, 14 pgs