Cross-Cultural Integration – 1 Day Seminar

Multi-national companies are constantly in the delicate but critical process of cross-cultural understanding and integration. Also, cross-border mergers and acquisitions are becoming more and more active in the Sino – US economy and play a vital role in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). How do managers handle potential difficulties when they arise? How can the advantages of a multi-national staff be maximized? Both senior and junior staff alike will benefit greatly from this intensive highly interactive one day seminar. Through multi-media, group activities, role-play, and verbal exercises horizons will be broadened and barriers broken.

Course Outline

What is Culture?

• Edward Hall Model
• Hoefstede Cultural Dimension Theory

Company Core Values, Mission & Vision

Building Cultural Bridges to Reach Goals (4 KEYS)

I. COMMUNICATION STYLES

• High Context v Low Context
• HC/LC examples in daily life- VIDEO
• Case Study – High & Low Context Miscommunications
• Three C’s of Good Communication
• Choosing the right communication tool
• Expressing Opinions -OREO method
• Active Listening – LASA method

II. POWER DISTANCE

• Mianzi and Life
• Making Mistakes
• 4S’s Disagreement Strategy
• Activity: Cultural Awareness Mixer!

III. SELF VS GROUP

• Test: What is your level of INDIVIDUALISM?
• Guanxi & Life
• Conformity is Beauty
• Case Study: Microsoft interview & collectivism
• Privacy and Westerners

III. RISK AVOIDANCE

• View of Future
• Harmony
• Uncertainty/Risk
• Savings Rate
• Creativity/Innovation
• Case Study – Apple Innovation
• Conflict Resolution
• 4A’s Strategy – Striving Forward While Maintain Harmony