Notes

Cross-cultural Awareness by Wallace Associates

Building Cross-cultural Teams

This programme enables you to become an effective manager of a cross-cultural team, especially a remote regional team. You will learn the differences between Chinese and Western colleagues (and other cultures around the region) and apply tips and techniques for building synergy. Hofstede's famous research findings form the basis of this module. You will learn how to “build bridges” across the differences, and create a genuine synergy from your cross-cultural team. In turn this will enable you to give much better service to your internal and external clients in the region.

Objectives
By the end of this programme you will be able to:
- Understand the norms of different cultures and build sensitivity
- Challenge your own cultural presuppositions and look for development
- Appreciate cultural differences and value diversity
- Build credibility and relationships with colleagues of different cultures
- Communicate effectively across the differences
- Agree protocols for running meetings and making decisions together
- Agree on a “middle way” for team cooperation
- Build better relationships with other teams in the region (or beyond)


Building Business Across the Region

This programme enables you to win more business across the region by gaining synergy from your cross-cultural team. Cross-cultural differences are a major cause of poor performance in business teams so this programme clearly identifies the differences and suggests ways for achieving synergy. This means seeking better communication, and agreement on handling clients. It focuses on differences in doing business, negotiating and managing client relationships. The team agrees protocols for doing business and resolving conflict in the team.

Objectives
By the end of this programme you will be able to:
- Appreciate cultural differences and build strength for handling client issues
- Communicate effectively between high and low context cultures
- Build relationships across the “individualism” differences by applying “face” rules
- Resolve conflict by agreeing a model which works across cultures
- Adopt appropriate levels of directness and manage client meetings effectively
- Create agreed team rules for operating in ambiguous ethical situations
- Decide on the best negotiating position to suit the cultural setting
- Enhance client relationships by applying cross-cultural communication skills


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