You have been working as an executive assistant to Ms. Simmons, the CEO of a prominent...

  

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You have been working as an executive assistant to Ms. Simmons, the CEO of a prominent marketing company in Canada. Recently, Ms. Simmons has decided to do business with a Saudi Arabian firm. You have been in contact with administrative counterparts at the Saudi firm, exchanging information on the services your marketing firm can provide. Things have been progressing well until a meeting was set up between Ms. Simmons and Mr. al-Ghamdi, the owner of the Saudi business. This meeting will involve Ms. Simmons travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet directly with Mr. al-Ghamdi and his management team. When Mr. al-Ghamdi discovers the CEO of your firm is female, he refuses to meet with her for the negotiation process and insists on meeting with a man from your organization. Women are not often found in leadership roles in Saudi Arabia, and this situation creates a conflict with Mr. al-Ghamdi's cultural values. Your company does not want to lose this contract, and a solution must be found. What can be done to resolve this situation? Is there something that could have been done in advance to prevent this situation from arising? You have been working as an executive assistant to Ms. Simmons, the CEO of a prominent marketing company in Canada. Recently, Ms. Simmons has decided to do business with a Saudi Arabian firm. You have been in contact with administrative counterparts at the Saudi firm, exchanging information on the services your marketing firm can provide. Things have been progressing well until a meeting was set up between Ms. Simmons and Mr. al-Ghamdi, the owner of the Saudi business. This meeting will involve Ms. Simmons travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet directly with Mr. al-Ghamdi and his management team. When Mr. al-Ghamdi discovers the CEO of your firm is female, he refuses to meet with her for the negotiation process and insists on meeting with a man from your organization. Women are not often found in leadership roles in Saudi Arabia, and this situation creates a conflict with Mr. al-Ghamdi's cultural values. Your company does not want to lose this contract, and a solution must be found. What can be done to resolve this situation? Is there something that could have been done in advance to prevent this situation from arising?

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The image you provided seems to display a case study or scenario that presents an intercultural business conflict where Ms Simmons a female CEO of a Canadian marketing company is facing a challenge wi... View the full answer