Scenario $1$: Misinterpretation of Feedback Style

Context: A foreign manager newly assigned to lead a team in Vietnam provides direct and candid feedback during a team meeting. For example, they openly criticize certain aspects of the team's performance, saying, "This is not acceptable, and we need to do better."

The local Vietnamese staff, accustomed to a more indirect and face$-$saving approach, perceive the manager's feedback as overly harsh and demoralizing. As a result, team members feel embarrassed and discouraged, leading to decreased motivation and productivity.

Task for the Group:

$-$ Analyze the cultural differences in communication styles that led to the misunderstanding.

$-$ Develop a communication strategy for the foreign manager to adapt their feedback style to align better with the local culture, to improve cultural sensitivity and build trust between the foreign manager and local staff.