1. The organization where you work is expanding into the global market by opening an office in China. What are some potential ethical and social issues that may arise as the company expands into this new area? Can these issues be avoided or mitigated? Why or why not? 

Any time a company expands into a new country there will be cultural differences that may cause some ethical and social issues. The Chinese culture is very different than that of the American (American International Education Foundation, 2012). From religion to family values the differences far outweigh the similarities. These differences in values can turn into ethical dilemmas. At the core the Chinese people are a collectivist people that put the group at a higher regard than the individual (American International Education Foundation, 2012). This is direct conflict with the normal American value of the individual rights of freedom. This can bring about some ethical conflicts, as the laws can be different for this type of culture. Of course the majority of issues may be mitigated with the proper education and training that focuses on cultural and social interactions (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). Providing cross cultural training provides important information to managers of different groups that assists in bringing the teams closer together, improving relationships, proper cultural understandings, and not to mention the increase in production (Trevino & Nelson, 2007). We may not agree on every aspect of a culture but we must respect their laws and customs in order to do business in the new environment. Reference American International Education Foundation. 2012. Some General Differences Between

Chinese and American Cultures. Retrieved on June 13, 2012 from http://www.china-nafsa.aief-usa.org/culture/differences.htm.

Trevino, L. K. & Nelson, K. A. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.