A Statement of the Challenges faced by Peterbilt Motors Company
The Denton, Texas headquartered motors manufacturing company, Peterbilt is faced with lots of challenges in the process of their operations, especially in their international supply chain management. At the very top of the challenges that the company faces while undertaking its international trade is the problem of language barrier and cultural differences among the different countries in which it operates across the globe. Secondly, the corporation faces a problem of the time difference between the countries they operate in and their central operations base in Texas. This time difference has created great levels of inconveniences in terms of realization of an effective system of communication across these operational bases. Lastly, the corporation is faced with the problem of the costly and time-consuming process of building up a truck for the overseas suppliers in a period of one month.
Addressing the Challenges
Peterbilt Motors Company should address the challenges of cultural difference from the frontier that it first understands and recognizes the cultural influences as a multidimensional combination of religion, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, indigenous heritage, and gender (West 271). A lot of expertise, knowledge, and skill remain concealed in the organization due to language and cultural hindrances. The corporation faces this problem has in ventures in countries in the international arena. The countries have different native languages and cultural beliefs that would be an impediment on the smooth operations of the company’s activities. These cultural and language differences create misunderstandings, feelings of exclusion, irritations, and sense of inferiority to both the local community and the company while trying to communicate in a language of global business.
The corporation is sensitive and aware of the different time zones across the globe. It is always mindful of what time it is for others when using the synchronous communication like Hipchat and video. It becomes essential to know the best time to communicate to an overseas office or sub-branch without facing lots of barriers and inconveniences.
Environment Surrounding Peterbilt Motors Challenges
The global automobiles industry is facing stiff competition day by day as new and more advanced technology come into play. Peterbilt Motors has to keep its game at per to ensure that it survives the forces of competition and scale a globe brand image. The company faces competition from companies like Safety Vision, Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co., and Volvo Trucks North America, and therefore it has to be smart in its operations in order thrive in such an industry.
The international operations of the business also succumb to pressures of the foreign currency value fluctuations. This creates variations in the profits and financial budgeting of the company’s operations. Foreign currency trend evaluations is an important aspect for the successful operations of the company (West 176).
Peterbilt is in the frontline within the industry to ensure that the manufacturing of automobiles keeps into consideration the aspects of reducing the environmental impacts and therefore heighten the standards of sustainability. The industry is driving lots of commitment towards keeping its production and other business activities environmentally sound.
Recommendations
The corporation has to ensure that it resolves the problems arising from its operations in the global business arena in terms of language barrier and cultural difference. This should be done by ensuring that the company recruits local experts and professionals to steer head its operations in the area. This will ensure that the community feels part of the company’s operations as they see people of their own involved in its running. The locally sorted professionals will also be an avenue to communicate the company’s operations to the local people in their local language and also voice the community’s concerns to the company's management (Pederson 328). This would create a harmony in ensuring that the business does not face difficulties in going against the cultural beliefs and values of the community. It is equally important that it provides its foreign workforce a civic education on the matter relating to the community and country they are currently operating in.
The company has to formulate a strategic approach to toggle around in identifying what time it chooses to communicate to its suppliers and outlets that are based overseas. An effective and timely communication is a critical aspect of doing business, and the survival of the company is highly dependent on such.
Works Cited
Pederson, J. (2011) International directory of company histories. Chicago: St. James Press.
West, J. (2010) "Introduction: Sustainability is Really about Company Survival", SMPTE Mot. Imag. J, 119(5), pp. 22-24. doi: 10.5594/j15965.
