Case Analysis of "the Road to Hell"

Description

This case is about two people with varying points of view regarding an interview due to their culture and background.

John Baker chief engineer of the Caribbean Bauxite Company of Barracania is preparing to leave his position, having been awarded a promotion to production manager of Keso Mining Corporation near Winnipeg. Baker had served his 23 years with Continental Ore in many different places which made him believe he was better than most at understanding and knowing how to get along with a variety of different regional staff.

Matt Rennalls, an assistant engineer whose father owned a prominent post with the local Government is one of the brightest Barracanian prospects on the staff of Caribbean Bauxite. The company had always been pleased with Rennalls decision to work for them rather then follow his father as the minister of finance and economic planning. His father's political role however does make him sensitive to cultural issues but having attended London University where he graduated with honors it was believe Rennalls had a diverse acceptance of cultural differences due to his international experiences.

During his initial interview with Hutchins, the production manager, Baker and Hutchins discussed the problems with Rennalls and his potential future with the company. It was made clear that Baker was to groom Rennalls as his successor.

Baker did so and after two years during an outbound interview, Baker tried to solve a complaint that he has received from a European subordinate of Rennalls who claimed Rennalls favored Barracanians over Europeans. In doing so, a cultural misinterpretation occurred during their communication process and finally the exit interview ended with Rennalls resignation.

Diagnosis

The case is an example of people of different cultures and the way in which they conduct themselves without understanding or acknowledging cultural differences and taking into consideration the perspective of their audience. Baker believed Rennalls would understand his perspective on the situation based on his international experience without considering his father's political ties and his sensitivity to cultural slander. Baker also didn't acknowledge Rennalls non-verbal signals when he was displaying signs of discomfort, frustration, and insult. Rennalls didn't rationalize the situation and acknowledge that Baker wasn't trying to insult Rennalls or insinuate that Barracanians are an inferior culture that doesn't know how to make the things because they are young in the economic environment compared to Europeans. In my opinion however, Baker is liable for the potential problem that could bring this split between the company and the son of the minister of economy and may cause problems in the