Spain – MoroccoCross-Cultural Meeting

Disclaimer: Pictures in this presentation are for representation purposes , the story and characters are fictitious.

Context

A Spanish Learning Service Company in its strategy to go global, after a successful implementation in South America, is seeking new markets in Morocco and specifically in the North of Morocco. It is known that the citizens of the north of Morocco speak fluently Spanish and the Moroccan Government is promoting many socio-economic development projects in the region thus an important potential of skills development is present.

The Spanish Learning Provider has approached a local Moroccan training provider based in Casablanca, leader in the market. Different discussions over the phone have taken place during last two months with the following outcomes:

• Many complementary competences are in place in the two companies• The project of collaboration is an excellent one and many opportunities are

in the Moroccan Market• As the pace of development is quite rapid, it is crucial to start as soon as

possible to deliver services in Morocco under a common structure• A kick-off meeting has to take place as soon as possible in order to discuss

the organisation of the project team and the way-forwardThe meeting was set at 10:00 in the Moroccan Company Offices

Dealing with Time10:00 Meeting

10:15 Arrival of the Spanish Team

10:20 Meeting with less senior hosts

10:30 Meeting with the CEO

Dealing with Time and Seniority

Two different team self-presentations

Spanish Team Presentation Moroccan Team Presentation

CEO at the Center

Export Manager

Technical Support

Team at the Periphery

Marketing Manager

Operations Manager

Trust versus Perceived Seniority

What a rude entry into the subject? Nothing

has been decided yet? Ok let’s see what they

want to propose!

Let’s go into the business, OK? You have received the

agenda I suppose, so I suggest to start

discussing the points one by one. So, how

do you see the complementarities

between our companies?

Yes, as discussed in my last phone call with your boss we could

definitely complement each other. Indeed....... would you like to have a

coffee first?

Why is he talking about my boss? I’m the owner of this project!

Boss or Grand-Father?Would you please check if we

can get some coffee here please!

Yes, Sir! I’ll do.

This guy definitely shows no respect to his

colleagues. He’s definitely of an

authoritarian type!

Team Work: Hierarchy VS Centrality

We need to specify the structure of a project team. I’m sure that

this would help us go smoothly in the project delivery. What do you

think?

Yes good idea , I have no problem if my colleagues join the team. However , as far as decisons are concerned , I prefer these will be

managed in separate top management meetings; You know kind a steering committee.

See! Proof of excessive authority! I’m sure this process

will take months!

Project Team ! Oh Risky ! (My team has

not sufficient knowledge to take

appropriate decisions

Different paths to manage risk

Why don’t we just start defining roles and

responsibilities of every one and draft a first cooperation

agreement?

These are indeed of a great importance in the project. Let’s have a tour at our company first: I want to show

you my staff , Afterwards, we’ll have a lunch at a typical Moroccan restaurant.

The End