Power, Protocol and the Assistant in "The Throne"

The case follows Peter, a British manager who leads a multi-cultural team within a globalized organization.
Rachel, a Belgian colleague, is towering figure in the organization's history and Peter's former superior. She has recently returned to the team after a stint in senior executive leadership.
While Peter views her as a standard team member, he feels she has returned with the ingrained habits of a boss in a department over which she now has little control.

The case concludes with Peter facing a dilemma: how to approach a Monday-morning meeting to address cross-cultural tensions that emerged following a recent team meeting.

- Evaluate how physical environments and "cultural artefacts" carry symbolic meanings that differ across cultural backgrounds.
- Evaluate leadership styles through the lens of power distance.
- Diagnose communication breakdowns in high vs. low context cultures.
- Formulate a tactical response for managing upwards and sideways.
- Identify the challenges that occur when a former superior returns to a team in a subordinate role yet maintains "ingrained habits of a boss".

Cross-cultural management - International management - Organizational behavior

L1, L2, L3
M2
Masters spécialisés
Cadre, dirigeant

Enseignement supérieur

PPT debriefing (9 slides)

Année de la problématique : 2026

Livraison : Livraison par lien de téléchargement

Nombre de pages : 8

Temps d'utilisation : 1h30

Code du secteur d'activité : 80 - Education