ArLyne Diamond - Leading and Managing a Global Workforce: Navigating Workplace Challenges and Change Today and in the Future

By ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.

Foreword by A.G. Karunakaran

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20660 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 210
Cupertino, CA 95014

Copyright 2012 by ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

Published by Super Star Press, a Happy About imprint 20660 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 210, Cupertino, CA 95014

http://happyabout.com

First Printing: March 2012

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-60005-214-9 (1-60005-214-2)
eBook ISBN: 978-1-60005-215-6 (1-60005-215-0)
Place of Publication: Silicon Valley, California, USA
Paperback Library of Congress Number: 2012931019

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All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Neither Happy About, nor any of its imprints, can attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

Warning and Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible. The information provided is on an as is basis. The author(s), publisher, and their agents assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor do they assume liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the use of information contained herein.

Dedication

Id like to dedicate this book to all the leaders and thinkers who came
before me.

Without your knowledge, I could never have acquired my own.

ArLyne

Acknowledgments

Before finalizing this book, I collaborated with several people on articles and books (some of which were never finished). I owe each a special thanks. Im sure some of the ideas Ive written about here derive partly from my having collaborated with each of the following:

• Gopa Periyadan, senior vice president of GDA Technologies/L&T Technologies
• Attorney Barbara Walker, formerly of Digital Equipment
• A.G. Karunakaran (we all call him AGK), former CEO of GDA Technologies and current CEO of MulticoreWare Inc.
• Jay Pinson, former dean of engineering at San Jose State and Applied Materials universities

Gopa and I started to write a book together, but we aborted it when he returned to school to acquire an MBA. Years ago, Barbara Walker and I collaborated on a few articles, and AGK and I recently wrote two pieces that are pending publication. Finally, I owe my decision to write this book to the late Jay Pinson, with whom I began a book project that his death, sadly, brought to a halt.

Authors need editors. I worked with Bernie Silver, former senior editor at the San Jose Business Journal. Bernie and I had collaborated before on my book, Conflict in the Workplace: Causes and Cures. He and I share many philosophical and political values and so it was easy for me to ask him to edit this book. But asking Bernie to edit it meant having the most outstanding partner in a production. He did more than edit. He offered countless suggestions for improvement, made me cut much more than I would have otherwise, and cleaned up my casual language considerably.

Not only has Bernie worked hard to make this book better, but he took time away from the novel hes writing to help me meet deadline. Bernie, I cannot thank you enough.

Praise for the Book

A wonderful gem of a read. Dr. ArLyne Diamond shares her compelling life experiences and wise insights about leadership, life and business in her work with businesses globally. Written with spirited energy and her signature maverick candour, Dr. Diamonds anecdotesdrawn from her wealth of knowledge and personal trials and tribulations over decadesare amongst the most fun, personal and memorable that you would find in any business book!

Rebecca Quah, MBA student at Keller Graduate School & Senior Director, CBRE/Asia Client Development

ArLyne Diamond is to be admired for her insight into management and leadership. She has created a comprehensive guide that provides a clear direction on how to lead in the changing Global Economy. For executives, this book is required reading.

Stephen Miller, CEO, Eclipse Identity Recognition Corporation

ArLyne brings to the vast sea of management/leadership books a very personal perspective from her many years of consulting and teaching. Avoiding the prescriptive How to do it, but rather putting things in an historical and geographic format, demonstrates her knowledge of the reality we experience in trying to adapt to the global business world of today. I thoroughly enjoyed relating my own past missteps to ArLynes views and recognizing what I can learn and incorporate into my daily management life.

Michael J. Cubbin, President, Bay Area Metro, DeVry University

ArLyne Diamonds book, Leading and Managing a Global Workforce, has the rare quality of blending work experience, psychological insight, and business know-how. The result is a powerful guide and treatise on how leaders cannot just manage but inspire their workers throughout the world.

Fred Foldvary, Director, Civil Society Institute at Santa Clara University

Leading and Managing a Global Workforce is a practical, easy read for anyone in leadership or management. Once again, Dr. ArLyne Diamond gives her audience food for thought in a compelling and unusual manner with timely insights for a rapidly changing global economy.

Dr. Lydia Ortega, Chair and Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, San Jose State University

No company nowadays can afford to do business only in its domestic market. The minute a company has a website, it is global! Having grown up initially in Germany and having lived and worked, besides the USA, also in the UK, Japan, and South Korea, I applaud ArLynes capturing of the importance of doing business internationally. Only a true leader understands the importance of respecting and working with other cultures and nationalities. This understanding and global know-how, however, is of essence for todays global leaders in order to themselves be respected and lead global teams. Well done, ArLyne!

EJ Dieterle, President and CEO, YES PartnersGlobal Executive Search

Intensifying global competition and staff from diverse cultures are driving the need for dynamic workforce management in todays companies. Managing a global workforce is about managing diversity, as cultures can vary from one location to the next within the same company. As such, the leadership must be astute to be able to relate to their employees needs in order to maximise their contribution to the organization.

Dr. ArLyne Diamonds book will prove to be a guiding light for probing managers who must take the lead to find answers to this ever-evolving subject. In her own words, she summarizes: Great leaders are confident. If you dont believe in yourself and your ideas, others will feel your self-doubt and fear following you. Well said, indeed.

Sritharan Vellasamy, Founder of Outsourcing Magazine, an international publication on the global services industry

A highly useful collection of management knowledge nuggets that the readers can take away from this book. Users can relate very well to the personal experiences captured by ArLyne and apply them to their current-day challenges. Applying the concepts will help the reader progress professionally in the years to come.