You work for Mike, a global company that specializes inmanufacturing and selling athletic shoes for both competitionathletes and casual users. You are called into your supervisor’soffice where he tells you that you have been assigned to be theleader of a virtual team. The team has been tasked with assessingthe feasibility of the company manufacturing and marketing aninexpensive athletic shoe to be sold in Brazil. You will beresponsible for getting the team up and running, maintaining openand clear lines of communications, and ultimately launching theproduct if it is found to be feasible.

Your supervisor hands you a list of the teammembers—twelve of them. Three work in the United States (two inBeaverton, Oregon, and one in New York City). Two work in England,two in China, two in India, and three in Brazil. All are Mikeemployees, and all were born in the country in which they work. Allspeak English, though some speak it better than others.

Your Task

Since you are team’s leader, your supervisor has asked youto meet with the members and then prepare a written report thataddresses the following:

1. What challenges do you expect the team will face becauseof its multicultural makeup?
2. How can you help the team overcome thesechallenges?
3. What are the opportunities presented by the multiculturalmakeup of the team?