Introduction
With the rise in how fast globalization has been affecting interactions in personal and professional areas, the importance of being able to establish a rapport with the representatives of other cultures and participate in a cross-cultural conversation successfully has increased noticeably. However, in a range of corporate settings, leaders still face significant pushback from employees, who are unwilling to accept the necessity to embrace diversity and make an effort to learn how to interact on a multicultural level. The observed issue occurs for multiple reasons, yet the key axes of conflict can be identified using the framework proposed by Hofstede, namely, the Model of Cultural Dimensions. Due to the incompatibility of beliefs and perceptions linked to individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and the femininity-masculinity dichotomy, conflicts may arise between the representatives of different cultures. The described conflict is depicted quite accurately and in a very relatable fashion in the movie “Outsourced.” “Outsourced” exemplifies the idea that, even with the presence of strong opposition for cultural diversity, cultural competence can still be built once exposing individuals to the opportunities that cross-cultural communication provides and allowing them to come to terms with the differences observed in the key cultural dimensions.
Background, Setting, and Plot
The plot of the movie is quite basic for a romantic comedy; namely, it centers Todd, the protagonist, who must make a business trip to India in order to outsource experts for his department. On his journey, he meets multiple new acquaintances, including Asha, who will, later on, become his love interest. After his experience during the Holi festival, Todd gradually changes his initially biased perception of Indian people and culture. However, at his company, an emergency leads to the outsourcing project being cancelled and moved to China. Asha tells Todd that she is writing a book about their encounter, and suggests him to help her, after which they become a couple and move in together. After Todd returns to the U.S. Asha calls him, and the movie abruptly ends.
Scenario Analysis: The Hofstede Perspective
Power Distance
Hofstede’s Model applies perfectly to “Outsourced,” with every element of it falling into its place perfectly to explain the phenomenon of cross-cultural communication, the rise in diversity rates and the resistance to change that team members are likely to have. Specifically, the misalignment between the expectations that the leading character has of the new staff members and the Indian employees’ perception of their role in the organization, as well as the approach toward managing their workplace functions and tasks and the philosophy that Indian employees follow, in general. For instance, the issue of power distance, which can be considered as quite low in the U.S., is notably higher in India due to the presence of the caste system within Indian society (Gul et al., 2018). The described issue is reflected in the movie, even though in a slightly underplayed way, as Todd, the lead character, encounters a variety of Indian residents. For example, when looking for a drink while being in India for the first time, Todd starts a causal conversation with a vendor, who is evidently [pleased and enthusiastic about their conversation. However, as soon as the Indian representative of the outsourcing company meets Todd, a quick shift in the mise-en-scene occurs, and the vendor is left completely out of the frame (Jeffcoat, 2006). The described change, while being somewhat subtle, serves to reflect the difference in the concept of power distance within Indian and American societies.
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Similarly, the ability to work independently as opposed to the willingness to function as a unit is exemplified in “Outsourced” as the leading character faces challenges adjusting to the highly collectivism-driven Indian society. Specifically, the movie demonstrates the discrepancy between the Indian and American approaches toward the concepts of individualism and collectivism by contrasting the cultural interdependence observed in India to the emphasis on independence in the West.
Remarkably, the movie is smart enough to recognize that none of the cultures rejects either of the notion completely. For instance, the focus on collaboration in American culture is emphasized in the film several times: “What would make your work day a more positive experience?” (Jeffcoat, 2006). In fact, the very title of the move, “Outsourced,” suggests that American culture invites the opportunities for collective work and the exploration of the power of a team. Similarly, Indian culture is not viewed in “Outsourced” as a monolithic concept of collectivism as the sole principle of functioning in the business setting. Instead, the film carefully navigates between the two concepts, pointing to the fact that one of them prevails in each culture. In turn, the fact that the dominant concept in one of the cultures is the exact opposite of the principle deployed in the other is, in turn, outlined quite clearly, which creates opportunities for comedic misunderstandings.
Masculinity vs. Femininity
Similarly, the specified aspect of Hofstede’s model can also be applied to examine the nature of the conflict shown in “Outsourced.” Portraying Indian society as that one with clearly delineated roles for men and women, the film creates several situations that are irrelevant to the plot, yet indicative of the differences between the two cultures. For example, one of the woman featured in the movie as a side character takes on the role of a matchmaker by offering the protagonist to consider her daughter as a possible bride in a half-joking manner: “Mr. Doad, you want to meet a nice Indian girl?” (Jeffcoat, 2006, 00:24:24). To amplify the effect of the specified proposal, the young woman in question is shown in the background wearing the traditional Indian female clothes and performing some kind of household chores. On the one hand, the specified scene could be considered as a poor attempt at creating a comedic situation using cultural tropes and stereotypes about Indian people. However, on the other hand, the described situation does portray a rather problematic aspect of the Indian culture, in which gender roles are mostly fixed (Sangwan & Thakre, 2018). Therefore, from the perspective of Hofstede Model, the movie represents the two cultures as strikingly different on the scale of masculinity-femininity, with the Indian traditions being portrayed as those with fixed gender roles and with the concepts of masculinity and femininity attached to men and women accordingly.
Uncertainty Avoidance
Finally, the phenomenon of uncertainty avoidance as one of the crucial aspects of Hofstede’s model must be addressed in relation to the movie, its characters, and its plot. Specifically, the concept of uncertainty as the phenomenon that is inherently connected with risks and, therefore, must be avoided at all cost in the business environment has been firmly and thoroughly integrated into the Western concept of business and economics (Farnese et al., 2020). Consequently, the focus on risk assessment and the need to manage the threats that may occur in the target setting remains one of the foundational characteristics of Western business. Surprisingly, despite the striking differences cross other parameters of Hofstede’s model, the specified aspect appears to link American and Indian perspectives together. Indeed, as the movie shows, both cultures appear to treat risk as something hardly pleasant, yet unavoidable and, ultimately, representing an important learning opportunity. In fact, it could be argued that the very premise of the movie, including the romantic plot and the workplace subplot, represent the idea of the reluctance to face risks and the end to confront them, building resilience and enjoying new opportunities. For instance, Todd as the main character shows rather low tolerance for risks by demonstrating his criticism of the concept of outsourcing at first (Jeffcoat, 2006). However, as the movie progresses, the protagonist learns to embrace Indian culture and understand the philosophy and motivations of Indian people. Therefore, throughout the entire movie, Todd confronts uncertainty, showing a gradual change in his attitude toward the specified phenomenon.
Likewise, Asha, the second lead character and the love interest of the protagonist, appears to show rather high rates of acceptance of risk, including both the business transactions and her personal; life. For instance, her mentioning her affair with Todd as a “Holiday in Goa,” which he misunderstands it accepts, showing his growth, points to her readiness to explore uncertainty (Jeffcoat, 2006, 1:10:48). Thus, most of the characters that the movie portrays show a moderate level of uncertainty avoidance. Specifically, while they are unlikely to be immediately attracted to the possibility of risk, they do not reject a solution on the basis of possible risks, either. Instead they show a rather mature approach toward managing risks by selecting carefully which are to be avoided and which open new possibilities for personal and professional growth.
Similarly to the rest of the cultural dimensions listed above, the uncertainty avoidance one appears to change gradually in the lead character as he experiences development throughout the movie. Namely, at first, is evidently reluctant to accept the risks of outsourcing, calling his boss’s idea ridiculous and being clearly opposed to the notion of outsourcing staff members from India. However, as he gets wrapped into the celebration of the Holi festival and starts exploring Indian culture, he grows increasingly more accepting of Indian people, traditions, and philosophy (Jeffcoat, 2006). Therefore, the uncertainty avoidance rates that h shows at the beginning start to expand gradually, helping Todd to mature and accept risks as an inevitable part of his life.
Overall, despite belonging to the genre of romantic comedy, Outsourced“ incorporates rather interesting business- and, particularly, HRM-related ideas, as well as a couple of remarkably well thought-out cultural perspectives. Although the movie succumbs to stereotypes several times, providing a rather superficial overview of some aspects of Indian culture, it also offers an important insight into how cross-cultural relationships and the conflicts that emerge as a result of these interactions can be managed.
Conclusion
Despite the presence of multiple artistic liberties and the constraints of the genre of romantic comedy, “Outsourced” manages to prove the possibility of cross-cultural dialogue even with the presence of strong cultural biases once an individual is exposed to the benefits that the multicultural dialogue can offer. Showing the gradual yet inevitable change in the lead character’s perceptions of the Indian culture and the idea of collaborating with Indian coworkers, “Outsourced” proves the importance of cultural competence and the inevitability of multicultural dialogue as a direct outcome of the globalization process. Moreover, the movie emphasizes the ridiculous nature of the refusal to engage in a cross-cultural interaction, as well as the belief that people belonging to specific cultures are in some way inferior to others. Thus, despite the constraints of the genre, the running time, and the script, the movie has managed to become more than merely a romantic comedy with a hint of a cultural journey. Instead, “outsourced” has attempted at subverting the perceptions associated with the reluctance to partake in cross-cultural exchange.
Recommendations
Despite its humorous nature and the constraints of its genre, “Outsourced” provides a rather accurate portrayal of the challenges that one is likely to expect when promoting cross-cultural collaboration and cultural integration in the workplace setting.
The issue of power distance is, perhaps, one of the most complicated discrepancies between American and Indian cultures in terms of addressing it in the workplace in the manner that will satisfy all parties involved. Due to the complex caste system of the Indian community, as well as the multiple nuances in workplace interactions, the probability of failing to address some aspects of the social hierarchy becomes highly plausible. Therefore, it is reasonable to ensure that all misconceptions are communicated directly and managed accordingly before developing into a larger conflict.
Additionally, the propensity among Indian people to agree as the means of being polite is yet another difference from a more direct and uncompromising American culture of negotiations. Portrayed in the movie quite vividly, the specified trait may hinder the process of collaboration since it will contribute to concealing the problems that may emerge in the course of working together. Thus, it is vital to consider the tools for encouraging trust and openness in the workplace context, while also developing the skills of emotional intelligence. While the former stop may invite Indian employees to share their impressions, including negative ones, more actively, the latter will help to recognize the signs of discontent or any other negative response from the outsourced experts without forcing them to bend their perception of acceptable behavior in the workplace. In fact, the very concept of emotional intelligence as the basis for collaborating in diverse setting must be elevated to the status of the foundational communication principle. Staff members and managers must be taught to identify and evaluate the emotional responses shown by coworkers, making the necessary adjustments to the selected communication strategies and promoting collaboration and shared learning.
In turn, the discrepancies in the perception of masculinity and femininity in Indian and American cultures needs to be resolved by approaching the issue form the perspectives of tolerance, acceptance, and compromise. Specifically, it is essential to build an understanding of the cultural premise based on which specific gender roles are associated wither with masculinity or femininity. Similarly, the reasons for linking femininity and masculinity with men and women accordingly need to be examined to embrace the specifics of the target culture and build a rapport with its representatives. While some of the aspects of relationships between men and women and the associated perceptions of the acceptable behavior expected from men and women respectively, namely, the perceived gender roles, might seem as ridiculous to a side observer, it is essential to recognize their existence. While change might be required to create the foundation for a more productive cultural change, it is vital to realize that alterations in people’s view of the world and their place in it, as well as the concepts of social justice, does not occur overnight, and that change takes time. However, it is also reasonable to expect a sensible compromise made by both parties in order to make the communication process more effective.
References
Farnese, M. L., Fida, R., & Picoco, M. (2020). Error orientation at work: Dimensionality and relationships with errors and organizational cultural factors. Current Psychology, 1-20.
Gul, H., Usman, M., Liu, Y., Rehman, Z., & Jebran, K. (2018). Does the effect of power distance moderate the relation between person environment fit and job satisfaction leading to job performance? Evidence from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Future Business Journal, 4(1), 68-83.
Jeffcoat, J. (2006). Outsourced. ShadowCatcher Entertainment.
Sangwan, D., & Thakre, A. (2018). Sexual harassment at the workplace in public and private sectors in India: A study at national capital region of Delhi. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 13(1), 29.