The unwillingness to convey bad news and the desire to maintain the harmony of the office set back the project completion date. A western manager may have to spend more time monitoring his Indonesian employees than he would similar-level employees in the West. This is partly due to the paternal nature of Indonesian business relationships and partly due to the tension involved in conveying bad news to a superior. A western manager should make it clear that he wants and expects his subordinates to come to him if they have questions or problems in the performance of their job responsibilities. The foreign manager must certainly understand Indonesian business customs, but the Indonesian managers should also be informed about what the foreign manager normally expects in a work situation.
Foreign managers take note.
Not all is as it appears in Indonesian business. An effective foreign manager is in tune with the running of the office. He monitors the progress of his subordinates as they go about their varied tasks. There is a lesson here to be learned by the foreign manager. Study the art of outward control as demonstrated by the Javanese employee.