“Outsourced”
- the movie study guide- Exercise #5
Dimensions with the Person and the Situation - add answers to
questions #3,4,7,8
|
Cultural
Dimension
|
Character:
Todd
|
Outsourced
Scene
or
Circumstance
|
|
Communication-
direct/indirect
|
Straight,
Efficient and fluent
|
At
the American office with his boss and at india with Puro and the employees.
He engages in discussion with the employees on how to improve the performance
of the business.
|
|
Status-
achieved / ascribed
|
Todd
has a high class status
|
Many
Indians give him a warm reception usually given to the high class people. The
children also view him as a rich person as evidenced by the beggar who stole
a phone from him
|
|
Accountability
– Individual / group
|
Very
accountable
|
Todd
shows his accountability when he tells the employees that their jobs have
been outsorced to China.
|
|
Planning
– People / time
|
Time
conscious
|
He
sets a timeline to lower the MPI to 6 which he achieves in three weeks.
|
|
Decision-making:
rules / relations
|
Has
excellent decision making skills
|
By
chosing Aisha to be the assistant manager who then proves to be competent.
|
|
Expression
– Reveal / conceal
|
Reveals
his emotions. Do not hide
|
When
having stomach problems at india and when angry at Puro for not coaching the
employees. Also he shows that he loves Aisha.
|
|
Connecting
– Inclusive / exclusive
|
Connects
easily with people.
|
He
connected with his employees which enabled them to lower the MPI to six.
|
|
Context
– Informal / formal
|
The
context of the movie is informal.
|
Many
events happening in the movie are unplanned unlike a formal setting where
many events happen in a chronological order. The color celebration and the
singing and dancing are examples of an informal setting. However, the movie
has elements of a formal setting due to the structure of management in Todd’s
company.
|
|
Relationship-Universal/situation
|
Very
good at developing relationships
|
He
made friends with Puro, became a boyfriend to Aisha and also had good
relations with the beggars
|
|
Outlook
– Tradition/ innovation
|
The
movie is set in the modern world.
|
The
activities conducted are in the modern world. Outsourcing, use of computers
and hotel booking
|
|
|
|

Reflection
Create a
reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint I give you. Show
that you really understand the above cultural concepts.
1. As soon as Todd arrives, he
experiences the discomfort of being disoriented in a
strange new place. What happens at the airport?
As
soon as Todd arrives at the airport, he finds no one to pick him up against
contrary to his expectations. Todd is amazed by the large numbers of taxis and
taxi drivers who wants him to use their services. While the taxi drivers are
nagging Todd, he spots another driver by the side of the road that is cool and
relaxed. Hoping to use the taxi services, the driver puts Todd’s luggage in
another vehicle that looks like a blend between a car and a motor bike. Todd
has no option but to get in the vehicle and go.
2. When a friendly traveler helps him
get on the train, what does he tell him to do?
The friendly traveller advises Todd to run after the train and jump on it.
3. When he gets on the train, he cannot find an empty seat. How is this problem
solved for him? How might this be a cultural solution?
A young boy gives up his seat for Todd.
Surprisingly, the boy then sits on Todd’s laps. This can be a cultural solution
where the young respect the elderly by giving up their seats for them.
4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying new food. His
first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?
Looking at Todd’s expression, he enjoys the drink as
evidenced by the passion with which he drinks it.
5. First encounters with a culture can
be shocking – Todd sees crowded streets with
cows, noise, and a man urinating in the street. But how does his host describe
the
city?
The host describes Mumbai as terrible. He also adds that many foreigners in
India usually have a bad experience.
6. Even though the host Puro speaks
English, Todd uses American slang a lot
without thinking. So as not to insult Puro, what does he say the meaning of
Schmuck is?
Todd ignores the question and brings up another topic.
7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he comes to a boarding
house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?
Puro argues that the hotel is a lonely place and he
won’t be comfortable there.
8. As soon as they meet, Aunti Ji starts asking very intimate questions that
Americans who have just met would never ask. What kind of things does she ask?
Aunti Ji asks about the occupation of Todd’s father. She also asks Todd whether
he is married or not. Whether he has a girlfriend,