Change of Plans

So since my last post we've discovered that our original assignment organization has changed, and as a result there's been a reshuffling of plans!

Now the team will be working with Mãos de Minas. They are an organization that helps local artisans get their products to market, both nationally and internationally. Sounds like a really interesting and progressive organization so it will be a great opportunity to work with them.

http://www.maosdeminas.org.br/index.html

Carolyn (US), Karin (Spain), SungHwuan (Korea) and myself will be working together on this assignment, so really looking forward to getting going on it soon!

In terms of my post assignment plans I've finally booked my flights and accommodation for Rio de Janeiro. Its been somewhere I've always wanted to visit so its really nice to have that to look forward to after the month of work in Belo Horizonte. 

Its also really great that a number of the team have similarly planned to make the trip there so we can all travel together and see the sights!

#ibmcsc Brazil

Back at it !

Ok, been a month since I contributed to this blog - very lazy ! But I did have to do a 2 week assignment in China, and my sister had a baby so I've been busy ... honest :o)

In the last few weeks we as a team have discussed a lot more about the various aspects to this assignment experience, but also we've been (briefly) introduced to our task and the organisation we'll be working with when we go to Belo Horizonte.

The organisation I'll be working with is SEPLAG which is a government / public service body.

The scope of work has been described to us at a high level, so lots more thinking to do on what we need to prepare for and work on in advance of the trip, along with what we may need to do when we get there.

Its all starting to feel more real now, and its less than a month to go ! 

I only wish my workload in my regular job would ramp down in line with the work for this assignment ramping up ! :o)

More later, but at least this is a start back into blogging again !!

#ibmcsc Brazil

Cultural Sensitivity

One really interesting and insightful part of our pre-assignment education and preparation work has been learning about cultural sensitivity / cultural intelligence.

Its very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that how your own culture does things is the best way, the regular way or the accepted way to operate. The reality is that each country (and even at a lower level within regions of a country) has its own set of behaviours and norms, which can be very different or alien to your own!

Being aware of this fact and being able to adapt to it is a key part of developing good relations with other people/cultures, and also to ensure both personal and professional relationships lead to a positive end result. Failure to respect this fact can lead to problems in relating to people from different cultures and certainly can have a negative affect in developing a productive relationship.

The following are some really useful tips we were provided with for working with counterparts from Brazil. A lot are very different from how myself as an Irish person may tend operate/behave by default.

The Essentials (10 Key Tips)

1. Recognise that a face-to-face meeting is preferred to written communication. Brazilians like to know the person with whom they will do business. You will be able to do only limited business by phone, fax or e-mail.
2. Personal relationships are key to doing business in Brazil. Hence the expression: "For friends, everything. For enemies, the law."
3. Be prepared for meetings conducted at a casual, unhurried pace. Don't get right down to business. Engage in conversation first. Wait for Brazilian colleagues to raise business subjects.
4. Recognise that Brazil is a group culture - don't do anything to cause a Brazilian to lose face, e.g., don't criticize an individual in a group meeting.
5. Expect decisions to be made by the highest ranking individual; people you negotiate with will often not have decision making authority.
6. Remember that flexibility is essential. Try to confirm meetings in writing. Appointments might be cancelled or changed at the last minute. Do not appear to be impatient.
7. Be prepared to be interrupted in conversations. Brazilians are expressive and passionate conversationalists.
8. Expect lenghty negotiations. Brazilians will take time in reviewing details. Do not try to rush them.
9. Dress well, but conservatively - dark coloured business suits.
10. Have the other side of your business card translated into Portuguese; present the Portuguese side to the recipient.

#ibmcsc Brazil