Abstract
The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental body founded in 1995 by an agreement between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin is based on a common interest to jointly manage the four countries shared natural resources.
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References
Source: Mekong River Commission, 2005, About us, URL: http://www.mrcmekong.org/about_us/about_us.htm#MRCS, as of February 12th, 2005, adapted by B.P.
Own compilation in accordance to MRC, 2004, Presentation Staff Meeting.
Compare MRC, 2003, Annual Report 2003, pp 27–30.
For further information on the German institution „Betriebsrat“, compare Turner, L., 1998, Fighting for Partnership: Labor and Politics in Unified Germany.
Co-management potential in public companies in Germany in contrast is much higher compared to private companies because „...it is assumed that pursuit of public interest obligates public companies stronger to co-management“ as Gerum, E., Steinmann, H., Fees, W., 1988, Der mitbestimmte Aufsichtsrat, pp 130–132, point out.
Compare MRC, 2005, Employment and Tenders, URL: http://www.mrcmekong.org/employment/vacancies.htm, as of May 17th, 2006.
For further information on the field of leadership theory compare Steinmann, H, Schreyögg, G., 2000, Management: Grundlagen der Unternehmensführung, pp 571–619.
See Schreyögg, G., 1999, Organisation: Grundlagen moderner Organisationsgestaltung, pp 259 for methods of team work.
Effective brainstorming demands good planning which also needs to consider what happens in the following. Firstly, the problem must be clear and the participants must be provided all necessary information. Basic rules must be clear to everybody and the atmosphere should pleasant and relaxed. Compare Vodvarsky, E., 2004, Brainstorming und andere Kreativitäts-Techniken, and Berkun, S., 2004, How to run a brainstorming meeting.
For an introduction to 360 degree feedback see Nuri, M., 2004, Der Blick aus allen Richtungen, URL: http://www.jobpilot.de/content/journal/hr/thema/36030-04.html, as of May 13th, 2006.
For an introduction to corporate theatre compare Schreyögg, G., Dabitz, R., 1999, Unternehmenstheater — Konzepte, Beispiele, Erfahrungen.
Compare Milliken, F. J., Martins, L. L., 1996, Searching for Common Threads, Understanding the Multiple Effects of Diversity in Organizational Groups, pp 402–433 and the illustration and explanation in chapter 4.2.2.
Nation in this context as a homogeneous language and tradition. A nation is then a unity of language, culture and tradition that is kept together by history. The nation is not definable by territorial borders. Compare Wikipedia, 2006, Nation, URL: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalit%C3%A4t, as off June 17th, 2006.
For a short introduction into the definitions and views of culture see O’Neil, D., 2006, Cultural Anthropology Tutorials, URL: http://anthro.palomar.edu/tutorials/cultural.htm, as off May 13th, 2006, and UNESCO, 2002, UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity, URL: http://www.unesco.org/education/imld_2002/unversal_decla.shtml, as off July 2nd, 2006.
Wikipedia, 2006, Culture — Defining Culture, URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture#Defining_.22culture.22, as off June 16th, 2006.
Jary, D., J. Jary, 1991, HarperCollins Dictionary of Sociology, p. 101.
UNESCO, 2002, UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, URL: http://www.unesco.org/education/imld_2002/unversal_decla.shtml, as off July 2nd, 2006.
Compare Geertz, C., 1973, The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays.
Compare Cohen, A. P., 1985, The Symbolic Construction of Community.
This analysis does not refer to research concerning the interrelations of remuneration and motivation, but is a mere description of the relevance of the differences concerning remuneration, motivation and culture in the context of the case study. For an introduction to remuneration and its connection to motivation compare Steinmann, H., Schreyögg, G., 2000, Management-Grundlagen der Unternehmensführung: Konzepte-Funktionen — Fallstudien, pp 747–755.
O’Neil, D., 2005, Hidden Aspects of Communication, URL: http://anthro.palomar.edu/language/language_6.htm, as off July 16th, 2005.
Paralanguage is redundancy in communication that helps prevent ineffective communication.. It can prevent the wrong message from inadvertently being passed on, as often is the case in a telephone call and even more so in a letter. The paralanguage messages that can be observed through face to face contact also makes it more difficult to lie or to hide emotions. Paralanguage is often more important in communication than what is actually being said orally. Paralanguage includes such elements as body language, tones and character of voice, proxemics (distance of people during talk), clothes, gender differences and many more. It has been suggested that as much as 70 percent of what we communicate when talking directly with others is through paralanguage. See O’Neil, D., 2005, Hidden Aspects of Communication, URL: http://anthro.palomar.edu/language/language_6.htm, as off July 16th, 2005.
UNESCO, 2003, The Interface of Gender and Culture, URL: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11573&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html, as off June 22nd 2006.
For further information compare Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2006, Pursuing Gender Equality through the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific, URL: http://www.unescap.org/esid/GAD/Issues/MDGs/Pursuing-Gender-Equality.pdf, as off July 18th, 2006.
For secondary information compare United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, URL: http://www.unescap.org/esid/gad/, as off August 12th, 2006 and Directory of United Nations Resources on Gender and Women’s Issues, URL: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/asp/user/list.asp?ParentID=11112, as off August 12th, 2006.
For an introduction to culture, religion, history, politics, economy and society of Southeast Asian countries compare Dahm, B., Ptak, R., 1999, Südostasien-Handbuch.
Compare Auswärtiges Amt, 2006, Laos, URL: http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/de/Laender/Laos.html, as off: August 13th, 2006.
Compare Auswärtiges Amt, 2006, Vietnam, URL: http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/de/Laender/Vietnam.html, as off: August 13th, 2006.
Compare Auswärtiges Amt, 2006, Kambodscha, URL: http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/de/Laender/Kambodscha.html, as off: August 13th, 2006.
Compare Auswärtiges Amt, 2006, Thailand, URL: http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/de/Laender/Thailand.html, as off: August 13th, 2006.
Compare Waldorf, L., 2004, Pathway to Gender, URL: http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/enpathway-to-gender-equality.pdf, as off September 3rd, 2006 or the World Bank GenderStats database URL: http://devdata.worldbank.org/genderstats/home.asp, as off September 3rd, 2006, for further statistical information.
Public display of affection or body physical contact of any kind is felt to be very unpleasant and offensive in most regions of Southeast Asia and is thus not happening. There is a much more intense sense of shame concerning public display of intersexual actions. Compare most common travel guides and Imai, G., 1997, Gestures: Body Language and Nonverbal Communication, URL: http://www.csupomona.edu/~tassi/gestures.htm, as off September 4th, 2006, and (with a wink) Axtell, R.E., 1993, Do’s and Taboos Around the World. This also finds its expression in professional environment and life where, for instance, if a woman and a man go out for lunch together or have a private conversation, it will in all probability be perceived as non-platonic. Women that are seen together with different men in such situations may rapidly become victims of office gossip and may be stigmatised. Compare also Excursus “A personal anecdote on culture and gender”.
Small and medium sized organisations in this context are defined following the head-count definition of the European Commission. Accordingly, organisations with 10 to 49 employees are labelled’ small’ and those with 50 to 249 employees are labelled ‘medium’. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is thus a medium IGO. Compare Ernst, D., 1999, Internationaliserung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen, p. 58.
Compare Chrobot, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, and Böhm, U., 2006, Kompetenz für deutsch-chinesische Geschäftsbeziehungen, URL: http://www.lift-report.de/main.php?init=nav&mcat=2&ncat=3&scat=122&vim=350, as off September 12th, 2006.
Chrobot, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, p. 200, translated by B.P.
Chrobot, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, p. 200, translated by B.P.
The underlying emotion is called ‘krengtschai’ in Thai language for instance and it describes a fear about actions that could displease superiors. Compare, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, p. 84.
Chrobot, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, p. 200, translated by B.P.
Chrobot, S., 2001, Bedingungen internationaler Gewerkschaftskooperation in Thailand, pp 200–201, translated by B.P.
The Cham are also called the “Islamic Khmer”. Today they live in several different countries such as Cambodia, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Malaysia. For further information compare EAD, 2006, Die Cham in Kambodscha, URL: http://www.ead.de/gebet/30tage/kalender.php?ausgabe=2006&tag=7, as off September 12th, 2006.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice and the explanations in chapter 4.4.
Ibid., p. 226.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, pp 34, and Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice, p. 167.
Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, p. 41 and Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice, p. 243.
Cox, T. Jr., Tung, R. L., 1997, The Multicultural Organization Revisited, p. 12.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, p. 42.
Compare MRC, 2006, Employment & Tenders, URL: http://www.mrcmekong.org/employment/vacancies.htm, as off September 12th, 2006.
Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, p. 42.
Cox, T. Jr., Tung, R. L., 1997, The Multicultural Organization Revisited, p. 15.
Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice, p. 137.
Ibid.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., Tung, R. L., 1997, The Multicultural Organization Revisited, p. 11.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, pp 34, and Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1991, The Multicultural Organization, and Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Compare Thomas, D. A., Ely, J. E., 1996, Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity, pp 79–90 and Dass, P., Parker, B., 1999, Strategies for Managing Human Resource Diversity: From Resistance to Learning, pp 68–80.
Dass, P., Parker, B., 1999, Strategies for Managing Human Resource Diversity: From Resistance to Learning, p. 72.
According to Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity and Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, pp 151–152.
This means that „...the management must understand that a diverse workforce has different perspectives, ideas, opinions and approaches to work“, Thomas, D. A., Ely, J. E., 1996, Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity.
This means that „...the organizational culture must value differences“, Thomas, D. A., Ely, J. E., 1996, Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity.
Dass, P., Parker, B., 1999, Strategies for Managing Human Resource Diversity: From Resistance to Learning, p. 71.
Ibid., p. 68–80.
Ibid., p. 70.
Compare Nemetz, P., Christensen, S. L., 1996, The challenge of cultural diversity: Harnessing a diversity of views to understand multiculturalism, p. 434–462.
Thomas, D. A., Ely, J. E., 1996, Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity, p. 86.
This can lead to hilarious outcomes: An organization that was under court order to hire more minorities used manipulations strategies when it counted the same person three times in the same compliance report because one parent was black, the other Asian and she was female. Compare Dass, P., Parker, B., 1999, Strategies for Managing Human Resource Diversity: From Resistance to Learning, p. 70.
For more details on the reactive, defensive, accommodative, and proactive strategic responses and their performance implications, see Clarkson, M. B. E., 1995, A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance, p. 92–117.
Oliver, C., 1991, Strategic responses to institutional processes, p. 145–179.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
See Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, appendix.
Own compilation based on Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, p. 274, and Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, p. 276.
Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, p. 276.
Own compilation including several arguments from Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice, and following Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen.
Own compilation following questions by Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, annex.
Merrill-Sands, D., Holvino, E., Cumming, J., 2000, Working with Diversity: A Framework for Action, p 10.
Adler, N., 1986, International Dimensions of Organizational Behaviour, p. 111.
Own compilation following questions by Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, annex.
Own compilation following questions by Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, annex.
Own compilation following Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice, and Sepehri, P., 2002, Diversity und Managing Diversity in internationalen Organisationen, annex.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Ibid., p. 47.
Compare Cox, T. Jr., 1993, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research and Practice.
Compare Thomas, D. A., Ely, J. E., 1996, Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity.
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(2008). Diversity and Managing Diversity in an Intergovernmental Organisation: The Mekong River Commission Case Study. In: Managing Diversity in Intergovernmental Organisations. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-90891-5_6
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