We completely agree with our CEO Mr. Nam about LGE becoming Global Company, but unfortunately for a company to become global company we should use one language as a common language in the organization.
The present status is we say that LGE is a global company to outside people but internally if we see it is still a 100% Korean company, still the Korean language and Korean speaking people are given more importance in the company. Not only that but even a fresh Korean national graduate or under graduate local employee with zero experience who joins LGE with no work knowledge is given more salary then a person who has 10 years of local market experience and much higher in his designation. When question to the top management they say it’s because he or she can speak and communicate in Korean Language.
Even today 90% of communication is done in Korean not only with Korean employees but most of the local employees who don’t know Korean do get Korean emails and reports.
We are trying so many activities to motivate the staff but when this discrimination and the language barriers are there how can we convince our staff that we are a global company not a Korean company.
This is leading to many issues and de-motivating the experienced and good working employees. If this continues there will be a day when all the good experienced people will leave LGE and join some other company.
I suggest CEO, if he wants to make LGE as a Global Company he should first set up guidelines to employees and motivate the employees and change the mindset of the employees from a Korean company to Global Company. The first customer for LGE is its own employees, till the time employees are not 100% convinced outside world can never be convinced. I would appreciate if you could strictly issue instructions to the FSE working globally not to discriminate the other nationalities. Once discrimination among employees is changed, you will notice a big change and a clear path for Global Top # 3.
And also my strong suggested request is if the CEO’s office request with a deadline to all the employees globally to use English as a common language so that we can be a true global company.
I agree that we are a global company but the LGE world is still divided into two types of people: Koreans and everyone else.
If we take corporate communications as an axample, Top 3 Worldwide is the only information that I receive in Europe about what is going on in the company. Virtually all of the internal portals, including the Communications Portal, are in Korean only!
I remember hearing back in 2004/2005 bold statements that by 2008 all documents and communications in LGE would be in English. 2008 is just around the corner and I don't see any tangible signs that we have made real progress towards that goal.
I truly hope that one day I will be an equal member in the LGE family and have the same access to information as my Korean colleagues.
I work for LGEAI in the USA and this is great news. We support Young Nam with this important change for the US market place. My question is: When will our KPI's change to meet the local needs. We continue to struggle as a business unit trying to run a service organization, using Korean standards?
I think we all agree with our CEO - however, when we bring the language problem up in our communications meetings we are put in trouble for even asking about it. Mr. Nam should become aware that the Korean management in the US is NOT onboard with any of his goals - qualified staff cannot be promoted because "they don't speak Korean" - so we have almost no english-speaking managers - almost no managers who understand the US business - only Koreans who even go outside the company for other Koreans to hire in above qualified US people. Mr. Nam is not being listened to in the US. Most US workers are actively looking for other companies that do not treat US people like second-class.
Your message has come across loud and clear! I agree 100% with your statement! The issue is getting this across to the local Korean Management; it hasn’t trickled down to them! I believe that this company can be number 1 in the US market. The only way that we can make this happen is to become a Global company! A Global company will adjust to the local ways of doing business, we clearly have not!
It is a sad day when I must look for a job waiting tables to compensate for the low income I recieve at LG. Cost of living increases and gas prices have gone unnoticed by all of our Korean upper management. I am going into debt by continuing to persue a career with LG Electronic.
I feel as though if I were Korean I would not be having these fears. It would not take 75% of my income to pay for housing (rent).
I(alone)can only hope to continue to maintain a home for my children. Personally I never thought a high profile company like LG Electronics would allow an employee in the US (or anywhere)to fear living on the street. All of my requests to HR have gone unnoticed and my upper management have created a work environment that uncondusive to these conversations.
This is not how LG Electronics will become a GLOBL TOP 3!
Comment: I find it curious that in the US an english-speaking person can only advance so far in this company because job requirements include being fluent in Korean - but Korean-speaking persons are transferred in and hired in that do not speak any english or very little and make no effort to learn even after years here. Very obvious double standard at work here.
I think that despite the great idea of turning LG into a global comapny, still upper management at the countries are not aligned with this. There are some examples that prove what i´m saying: a) A global company has global management, while in LG most of the decision making happens among Koreans (this will only drive korean culture as a way to do business, hence no global mindset); b) Global companies have a strong business procedure that cascades down fron HQ to every single country, while in LG each country will run the business based on the working way from Korean directors and up; c) Global companies have a clear way of training global people to grow within the organization, while in LG we are not doing that.
I trully believe that the future of this company lies within globalization, however i also truly believe that this is not happening as fast as it should. It would be of great value that within the open communication approach that Mr. Nam is championing this can be open for discussion. It is a very important topic.
It is critical that we implement this strategy quickly. We are going to lose Great talent, and not be able to attract talent in the future if we don't make tangible changes immediately.
13 comments:
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I agree 100%. Each market/country is different and Companies must adjust appropriately to be successful, in the long term.
We completely agree with our CEO Mr. Nam about LGE becoming Global Company, but unfortunately for a company to become global company we should use one language as a common language in the organization.
The present status is we say that LGE is a global company to outside people but internally if we see it is still a 100% Korean company, still the Korean language and Korean speaking people are given more importance in the company. Not only that but even a fresh Korean national graduate or under graduate local employee with zero experience who joins LGE with no work knowledge is given more salary then a person who has 10 years of local market experience and much higher in his designation. When question to the top management they say it’s because he or she can speak and communicate in Korean Language.
Even today 90% of communication is done in Korean not only with Korean employees but most of the local employees who don’t know Korean do get Korean emails and reports.
We are trying so many activities to motivate the staff but when this discrimination and the language barriers are there how can we convince our staff that we are a global company not a Korean company.
This is leading to many issues and de-motivating the experienced and good working employees. If this continues there will be a day when all the good experienced people will leave LGE and join some other company.
I suggest CEO, if he wants to make LGE as a Global Company he should first set up guidelines to employees and motivate the employees and change the mindset of the employees from a Korean company to Global Company. The first customer for LGE is its own employees, till the time employees are not 100% convinced outside world can never be convinced. I would appreciate if you could strictly issue instructions to the FSE working globally not to discriminate the other nationalities. Once discrimination among employees is changed, you will notice a big change and a clear path for Global Top # 3.
And also my strong suggested request is if the CEO’s office request with a deadline to all the employees globally to use English as a common language so that we can be a true global company.
Mr Nam,
I´m very glad to read this comment from you, and I agree to 100 % to you.
"Lokal business through lokal management(style)!"
Please start the roll out of this management thinking and leading style immediately in Germany.
Thank you for your support.
With best regards
Steffen Drauz
LG Germany Mbile Communication
I agree that we are a global company but the LGE world is still divided into two types of people: Koreans and everyone else.
If we take corporate communications as an axample, Top 3 Worldwide is the only information that I receive in Europe about what is going on in the company. Virtually all of the internal portals, including the Communications Portal, are in Korean only!
I remember hearing back in 2004/2005 bold statements that by 2008 all documents and communications in LGE would be in English. 2008 is just around the corner and I don't see any tangible signs that we have made real progress towards that goal.
I truly hope that one day I will be an equal member in the LGE family and have the same access to information as my Korean colleagues.
I receive many many emails that I can not read because they are in Korean. Please instruct Korean management to write emails in English.
I work for LGEAI in the USA and this is great news. We support Young Nam with this important change for the US market place. My question is: When will our KPI's change to meet the local needs. We continue to struggle as a business unit trying to run a service organization, using Korean standards?
I think we all agree with our CEO - however, when we bring the language problem up in our communications meetings we are put in trouble for even asking about it. Mr. Nam should become aware that the Korean management in the US is NOT onboard with any of his goals - qualified staff cannot be promoted because "they don't speak Korean" - so we have almost no english-speaking managers - almost no managers who understand the US business - only Koreans who even go outside the company for other Koreans to hire in above qualified US people. Mr. Nam is not being listened to in the US. Most US workers are actively looking for other companies that do not treat US people like second-class.
Your message has come across loud and clear! I agree 100% with your statement! The issue is getting this across to the local Korean Management; it hasn’t trickled down to them!
I believe that this company can be number 1 in the US market. The only way that we can make this happen is to become a Global company! A Global company will adjust to the local ways of doing business, we clearly have not!
LGEAI
It is a sad day when I must look for a job waiting tables to compensate for the low income I recieve at LG. Cost of living increases and gas prices have gone unnoticed by all of our Korean upper management. I am going into debt by continuing to persue a career with LG Electronic.
I feel as though if I were Korean I would not be having these fears.
It would not take 75% of my income to pay for housing (rent).
I(alone)can only hope to continue to maintain a home for my children. Personally I never thought a high profile company like LG Electronics would allow an employee in the US (or anywhere)to fear living on the street. All of my requests to HR have gone unnoticed and my upper management have created a work environment that uncondusive to these conversations.
This is not how LG Electronics will become a GLOBL TOP 3!
Comment: I find it curious that in the US an english-speaking person can only advance so far in this company because job requirements include being fluent in Korean - but Korean-speaking persons are transferred in and hired in that do not speak any english or very little and make no effort to learn even after years here. Very obvious double standard at work here.
I think that despite the great idea of turning LG into a global comapny, still upper management at the countries are not aligned with this. There are some examples that prove what i´m saying: a) A global company has global management, while in LG most of the decision making happens among Koreans (this will only drive korean culture as a way to do business, hence no global mindset); b) Global companies have a strong business procedure that cascades down fron HQ to every single country, while in LG each country will run the business based on the working way from Korean directors and up; c) Global companies have a clear way of training global people to grow within the organization, while in LG we are not doing that.
I trully believe that the future of this company lies within globalization, however i also truly believe that this is not happening as fast as it should. It would be of great value that within the open communication approach that Mr. Nam is championing this can be open for discussion. It is a very important topic.
It is critical that we implement this strategy quickly. We are going to lose Great talent, and not be able to attract talent in the future if we don't make tangible changes immediately.
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