Intercultural Communication Institute

The intercultural field has largely focused on training for international assignees or multicultural groups rather than on linking intercultural competence to the strategic concerns of key decision-makers. In this workshop, participants will analyze business problems around common strategic challenges for global organizations such as mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing, and developing global leaders, and they will practice a consultative approach to shaping solutions.

Designed for
Internal and external human resources and organization development professionals, consultants and experienced trainers who seek to augment their training skills, and university and college faculty and staff who seek to know more about everyday challenges in a business context.

Learn about typical global business issues that are best addressed through a consultative approach
Gain skills for analyzing and resolving management issues by working through specific examples
Know when “culture” is in the foreground and when it is in the background
Adapt to the client’s language and explicit priorities; e.g., when is the idea of “culture” welcome?
Learn questions and interview skills for drawing out underlying causes and incorporating the perspective of global employees
Discuss the role of training as one possible ingredient in a larger solution set
Understand how other factors such as market changes, competitive challenges, organizational culture, functional perspectives, and individual personality are mixed with intercultural issues

Learning Activities

Immersion in Executive Life: Simulation of a top management meeting
Daily Case: Discovering the basic issues based on a real scenario
Consulting Skills: Learning to move from strategy to solutions
Five Models: Sharing and discussing possible solutions using tools executives will recognize

Faculty: David Eaton and Ernest Gundling

David L. Eaton is a founder of Aperian Global and managing director for the Global Business Transformation practice group. For nearly twenty years he has been a global consultant for multinational corporations throughout the world, working with senior management to design globalization strategies to evaluate and develop core cross-cultural competencies for global leaders and their global teams, including cultural fluency in areas like global M&A, joint venture management, cross-border outsourcing, new product introductions, human resource development, corporate communications, sales and marketing, and global sourcing and manufacturing. Dave has published in a wide range of management and human resource magazines, and he is completing research on best practices in global mergers and acquisitions.

Dr. Ernest Gundling is a co-founder of Aperian Global, formerly MeridianEaton Global, and currently acts as a senior Asia specialist and co-president of the company’s operations. Ernest assists clients in developing strategic global approaches to leadership, organization development, multicultural management teams, and relationships with key business partners. He is the author of The 3M Way to Innovation: Balancing People and Profits; Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders; and co-author, with Anita Zanchettin, of Global Diversity: Winning Customers and Engaging Employees in World Markets. He has been a co-producer of Aperian Global’s video series, Working with China and Globally Speaking, and is a contributor to the company’s web tools, GlobeSmart and Global Teams Online.