International Collaborations
In today’s global society it is more common for organizational executives to meet with visitors from other countries. When hosting or meeting executives from other countries, diplomatic protocols come into play. Understanding and following diplomatic protocols creates the ability to develop international collaborations and projects. As it turns out, diplomatic protocols are leadership skills. Diplomatic skills evolved to create successful relationships and collaborations between countries. Top executives and in some cases Department Heads need these same diplomatic skills to work with community groups and other organizations. These skills are necessary to develop community support for organizational initiatives. While this assignment is a cross-border project, the same protocols work in collaborating with other organizations, community groups, and even in collaborating with other departments in the same organization.
Scenario:
You are the City Manager of a city of about 500,000 about 10 miles from the U.S. border and your City Council has identified a city of comparable size 20 miles on the other side of the border with which they want to develop a successful sister city relationship. For this exercise you can use either the northern or southern border. The City Council has tasked you to develop the outreach and plan for the first meeting. Outline the agenda and protocols for the first meeting.
Summary:
from the readings summarize the description of international collaborations, how to develop international opportunities and relationships, and maintaining international relationships.
Pay particular attention to the sections on creating international opportunities and the examples, developing international relationships and the examples, and the section on universities and international collaborations.
Analysis:
Evaluate and analyze (using the information in your summary) the steps you would take to develop a sister city relationship with a city across the U.S. border.
Recommendations: Using the readings, develop a plan for working through difficult issues. The difficult issue is that each city is adamant about wanting the first meeting in their city. Working with your counterpart in the other city, develop a plan to resolve this issue. Working with your counterpart in the other city, develop a(n) (implementation) plan to resolve this issue. Also include a plan to maintain international relationships. Pay particular attention to the sections: working through difficult issues, maintaining international relationships, and the summary and conclusion.
DO NOT use headers or footers.
Reference: (one reference has to be this book)
Borrego, E. and Johnson, R. G. (2012). Cultural Competence for Public Managers: Managing Diversity in Today’s World. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fl.
Chapter 11: Using Cultural Competence to Develop International Collaborations
