Coming up with an innovative solution to a challenge or problem - Essay Example

Hannulee Moonuh Jyudo Sossanal Goomungee Itda.” This famous proverb from my home country Korea literally translates to, “there is a hole to escape to even when the sky collapses on us.” Generations of Koreans have found resonance in and gained hope from this powerful message of faith – a message that indeed reflects the values of a people and a nation who have struggled against adversity, poverty and war to come out victorious in the end. However, I see that adage not only as one that articulates the survival instincts of my country as a whole, but one that embodies my own inner values as well.

It captures the personal commitment I have made to never allow myself to be defeated by the odds and to never be conquered by the challenges that come my way. In my line of work as the leader of a marketing and service team of a company marketing South Korean products in the United States, I learn not only the intricacies of international commerce, I am also given valuable insights on the interface between two distinct but equally rich cultures. It is of course unavoidable that some problems and challenges emerge along the way.

A big problem I confronted as leader of my team was the inevitable issue of language. South Korea has a thriving and robust economy, but the English-speaking skills of many Koreans have yet to be developed. At some point, I realized that our company losing many potential customers because the lines of communication were not brisk enough. In a fast-paced global business environment, time is very often of the essence, and one must always be able to respond quickly. In our case, the language barrier became a handicap.

When we lost two accounts in a row, I knew some drastic measures had to be done. After mulling over this issue, I decided to come up with a two-pronged solution. First of all, I suggested an “English-incentive” program, wherein employees would be given benefits and bonuses over and above their regular bonuses if they learned basic and conversational English. I proposed this not only to boost our sales and improve customer satisfaction, but also, and equally importantly, because I am an ardent believer in equipping each individual with the necessary tools he needs to develop himself and reach his fullest potential.

I knew that this would be a huge boost to their personal and professional growth, whether or not they choose to continue their career in our company. Secondly, I tapped technology, making use of the full breadth of technological resources available. I created a fully-functioning bi-lingual website to address customer concerns and to provide all the necessary information about our company and what we do. With the click of a key, customers can read about us and converse with us in a language they are more familiar with.

International commerce and globalization are indeed making the world one global village. Barriers are going down, boundaries are shifting, cultures are intersecting, changes are taking place at breakneck speed. Indeed, one must adapt and innovate if one is to succeed. The challenge is to balance both the need to be cognizant of the distinct differences between cultures and appreciate the richness and uniqueness of each, while at the same time, bridge the divide where it can be bridged and develop common intersections and parallel trajectories.