Cross Cultural Training

Dr. Kamalpreet Kaur

 Fundamental difference between Training
and CCT?
• Training: Based on management philosophy, the
training could be organized any where and for every
one.
• Cross Cultural Training: Based on management
philosophy but highly concentrate on staffing approach:
 Ethnocentric – Parent country
 Poly centric – Host country
 Geocentric – Best suited areas
 Re-geocentric – Any where

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Types of CCT
• Environmental briefing – geography, climate,
housing, and schools.
• Cultural orientation – cultural institutions, value
systems of the host county.
• Cultural assimilators - inter cultural encounters
• Language training – communication effectiveness
• Sensitivity training – to develop attitudinal flexibility.
• Field experience – to make the expatriate familiarize
with the challenges of assignment.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Training
• The extent of effort by trainees and trainers
required to prepare the trainees for expatriate
positions

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

• Low Rigor Training
• Short time period
• Lectures
• Videos on local culture
• Briefings on company
operations
• High Rigor Training
• Lasts over a month
• Experiential learning
• Extensive language
training
• Often includes
interactions with host
country nationals
 High Training Rigor

• Techniques: Field trips to host country,

meetings with managers experienced in host
country, meetings with host country nationals,
intensive language training.
• Objectives: Develop comfort with host country
national culture, business culture, and social
institutions.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Mid- level Training Rigor
• Techniques: Experiential learning exercises,
role playing, simulations, case studies, survival
language training.
• Objectives: General and specific knowledge of
host country culture, reduce ethnocentrism.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Low Training Rigor
• Techniques: Lectures, video tapes, reading
background material.
• Objectives: Provide background information
on host country business and national
cultures, basic information on company
operations.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

• To develop and design effective training,
companies must implement a system
approach which includes:

• 1. Analysis of training needs of target

population
• 2. Establishing training goals
• 3. Careful training design
 Analysis of training needs of target
population
• Leadership skill
• Initiative
• emotional stability
• Motivation
• Ability to handle responsibility
• Cultural sensitivity
• To handle stress
• Flexibility.
www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana
 Training Goal
The goal of cross cultural training should be to equip the
trainees with knowledge, skills and attitudes which
enable them achieve the following three adjustments
and effectiveness which are indicators of international
success:
• Personality adjusted, i.e he / she feels happy and
satisfied with situation abroad.
• Professionally effective if he performs his tasks, duties
and responsibilities on the job completely.
• Inter-personally adjusted and effective if he takes
interest in interacting with locals capably.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Design of Training
• First level training to focus on learning about
host country’s culture, language, politics,
business, geography, religious values and
history. Through seminars, videos, meetings
with citizens of the country before assignment
begins.
• Second level training deals about assignment
itself. Requirements of the position –
technical, managerial knowledge needed
company officials can do that before leaving.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 • Third level training deals with preparing him for
new job at new location to be done by whom
he is replacing.
• Forth level training – how he / she adjusts and
adapts to new environments, by providing
assistance.
• Fifth level training addresses re entry back
home and contact with people at home and
visit home during vacation

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Pre-departure Phase
Employees need to receive language training and an
orientation in the new country’s culture and customs.
• The family should be included in the orientation.
• Expatriates and their families need information about
housing, schools, recreation, shopping, and health
care facilities in the area where they will live.
• Experiential training methods are most effective in
assignments that require significant interpersonal
interaction with host nationals.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Methods of training
Truly global operations means having a team of international
managers who are available to go anywhere in the world.
• Provide international experience to many levels of managers
• Short-term development assignments ranging from a few
months to several years
• International job rotation
• Attendance at common training and development programs
held either in the parent country, or regional centers, or both
• International meetings in various locations that foster
interaction and personal networks

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Types of Training and Development
• Cultural Training: Understanding the culture of
host country, enhance effectiveness,
familiarization trip before formal transfer.
• Language Training: Manager’s ability to
interact, help build rapport and improve
manager’s effectiveness.
• Practical Training: Adjust to day to day life in
host country, establish a routine, successful
adaptation, support network of friends

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 On-site Phase.
Training involves continued orientation to the
host country and its customs and cultures
through formal programs or through a
mentoring relationship.
• Expatriates and their families may be paired
with a mentor from the host country who
helps them understand the new, unfamiliar
work environment and community

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana

 Repatriation Phase
Prepares expatriates for return to the parent
company and country from the foreign
assignment.
• Expatriates and their families are likely to
experience high levels of stress and anxiety
when they return because of the changes that
have occurred since their departure.

www.ctuniversity.in Campus : Ludhiana