Windesheim Collaboration
Associated with Shidler College of Business Graduate International Marketing Management Class
International Collaboration
Over 1 month, my international marketing class collaborated with students from University of Windesheim Applied Sciences. Each UH Mānoa student was partnered with 3-4 international students to craft a plan based on a case study regarding the European cereal company MyMuesli. This collaboration fostered an experience of working in multinational teams with different time zones.
Article Link: International marketing students collaborate with Netherlands counterparts
Personal Experience
The privilege to participate in the IRC collaboration with the Windesheim students has expanded my overview of working in international teams as well as working in virtual teams. In regards to working with international groups, I was a bit hesitant for the collaboration as I have learned of difficulties due to the cultural differences. I was unsure of how my experience with working in an international group would be. However, as the collaboration progressed, I was pleasantly surprised with how well I worked with my team. With the virtuality of the project, we were able to work on the project on our own times, have the ability to access information and work together despite being great distances apart. I was excited to work and meet them virtually throughout the course of the project period.
Skills: Marketing Research, PESTLE Analysis, International Communication, Time Management, Recommendation Proposal
Project Overview
The project that my team worked on was based on a case study of German cereal brand MyMuesli Cereal. I was placed in a team with students from Greece, Spain, and Turkey. As a team, we conducted research about potential European countries that were ideal locations for the brand to expand in. Using the secondary research provided by the case alongside external resources, our team crafted a recommended marketing strategy. Our strategy consisted of standardization and adaptation strategies for the countries of France, Italy, and Norway.
The experience from this collaboration has taught me the importance of understanding the different cultures and creating a work environment that accommodates for all working styles. Finding a work ethic for the different work styles can help create an effective and efficient environment for everyone to work in. As I consider career options in the future, I will take these lessons into consideration when working with teams. Being that I aspire to work for an international company, it is important to be aware of and respectful to the cultural differences.