Exercise #8 Outsource

“Outsourced” - the movie study guide 

You are going to watch and create a reflection on the film "Outsourced". 

These questions will help you. If you miss watching the film in class, you may get a copy from the library and watch it at home. Here are some clips from "Outsourced"

http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/Clips/ms_educlips.html

Cultural Dimensions in Outsourced

As you watch the film, answer the questions and write down any examples of different cultural dimensions. This will help you with your reflection. 

Cultural Dimension	Character Todd, Puro, Aisha or other	Outsourced Scene  or Circumstance
Low-context culture	Todd	India Airport
High-context culture	Anti-Ji	Anit-home
Individualism	Todd	went india alone
Collectivism	(indian), Puro	Taxi station, Anti home
Low power distance	Todd, Aisha	Dave office, Class
High power distance	Pure	Al the time
Uncertainty tolerance	Aisha	Class
Uncertainty avoidance	Anti-Ji, Todd	Anit-Ji home, Class
Task orientation	Todd	Learning people
Social orientation	Puro, Anti-Ji	Anti-Ji home

Reflection

Create a reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint I give you. Show that you really understand the above cultural concepts.

14. What doesn't Todd understand about the Indians' response to the "cattle brand"?

He was talking about it in an insensitive way without knowing how sensitive and holy cows are in India 

16. He calls home several times. Why? What stage of culture shock might provoke
calls home?

Because he is homesick. 

19. Todd doesn't understand bargaining. How does the Indian respond to this?

 He thought that Todd is barging and started barging back immediately without even paying attention to whats Todd’s actually saying as it’s a very common habit in india 

21. What advise does his fellow American have for him?

That once he gives in and stops resisting he will do much better. 

22. When Todd develops the incentive system, he has begun to adapt to India. How
has he adapted?

Once he saw improvement from the team he apologized to them and admit that he should learn more about India. He also asked for suggestions and opinions on how to create a better environment from them to work

23. When he looks at the cow in the office the second time, why is his reaction so
different?

Because he started to adjust and fit in which was shown in his second look, it was friendlier and more receptive that his first look and reaction when he just arrived to india 

24. Explain the difference between American and Indian cultures when Todd and
Puro discuss how often he visits his family and why he doesn't live with them.

Indians are more attached and close to their families than Americans. They consider the family an important and number one priority in their lives and that explains why they live with their families even if they get older and what their parents mean to them. While in America people mostly move out in a very young age and get caught up in their busy lives away from their parents and they’re family and only gather when there’s an event such as weddings, Christmas and thanksgiving.

26. How well does Todd handle himself when he is invited over the wall to an Indian
home for a meal?

Very well, that showed us how open he became to new things from a different culture and class than what he’s used to

28. When the call center floods and they are shut down, Todd finds an "Indian"
solution. What is it?

He asked the poor indian man from over the wall for his help with replacing the wires as he saw in his place how they all surviving on a public source of electricity by extending wires from it. And that’s an indian way as the economy is very bad and people try to survive in many ways in that was one of them

29. When Todd comes home, there are several signs that his Indian experience has
influenced him. Name three ways he has become more "Indian".

First by calling his mother and planning to visit her, then the way he made his tea, and he drank it with his right hand, the small touch he added to the dollar plate he has and finally his mobile ringtone which was an Indian tune