On Wednesday 24th November Gordon Shaw from Sempre Avanti Consulting will be presenting at the Organisational Design and Strategy Execution Conference in Melbourne Australia.
This post is for the attendees to down load the CI Check List.
Download CI consulting check list Org Design Conf Nov 2010
Also to follow is the position paper given to the delegates at this conference.
Purpose
This Position Paper has been prepared to assist you with post follow up reference from the Organisational Design conference. Please refer to the slides.
Introduction
What is culture - Geert Hofstede states – “Culture consists of mental programs that condition individuals’ responses to their environment
Human nature or personality”
CQ References
“People skills for global business – Cultural Intelligence” by David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson
Klein – “pre-mortem rehearsal” imagine issues / trouble before it happens
“leverage point” a turning point – a small difference that makes a BIG difference!
Operating at a higher level of understanding
Opening up your mind
As simple as showing respect and treating people with dignity and as you want to be treated
TURN DOWN THE ARROGRANCE METER
Gary Klein “Sources of Power” (1988) “Amounts of expertise limit abilities to build mental simulations”
Cultural intelligence means being skilled and flexible about understanding a culture, learning more about it from your ongoing interactions with it, and gradually reshaping your thinking to be more sympathetic to the culture and your behaviour to be more skilled and appropriate when interacting with others from the culture.
Klein – “scenario fulfilment” – assumptions made to fit a predetermined path.
“antigoals” unwanted outcomes – Klein 1994
EXAMPLE OF CQ - Presenting in Japan
This introductory guide provides an initial understanding of the issues you may face when presenting in Japan. While the focus of this document is on making presentations in Japan, all of the concepts raised in this document apply to presentations in other Asian countries.
Though English is Japan’s second language outside the main cities in Japan few Japanese have encountered a native English speaker. English is taught in Japan at secondary and high schools for 6 years. Most of the post baby boomer generation in Japan can understand (read and write) and speak some English.
Use of Language
It is important to consider your use of language when you are presenting to an audience of non English speaking people or to an audience where English is a second language. You will have to pay attention to sentence construction, technical terms and the use of bullet points within PowerPoint.
Translations
If you are presenting to a bilingual audience then it is strongly recommended that you have any written presentations translated into the native language. There are many translations services that can assist with this.
A point to note here is that literal English translations to another language do not always have a one to one equivalent and may not have the meaning you are trying to convey. For example there is no literal translation in Japanese of “How are you?”
Colour
Depending on the country you are presenting in, you will have to research what colours may offend and to not use these in written or PowerPoint presentations. In Japan it is highly offensive to produce written correspondence (especially someone’s name) using the colour red.
Religion
In any Asian country your audience will be made up of people from a number of different religious backgrounds. You will need to carefully consider your use of language especially the use of humour so as not to cause offence.
In Japan the two major religions are Shinto and Buddhism. The post baby boomer generation in Japan may not practice a religion but with a cultural upbringing based on religion, offence may be caused if religious beliefs are not considered.
Business Cards
The exchange of business cards in Japan is a highly significant event. The business card exchange can set the tone for the rest of the relationship. It is recommended that if you do not have a business card holder that you purchase one before visiting any Asian country.
In Japan it is critical that you keep your cards in a business card holder and when you receive a business card that you examine it carefully and try to pronounce the name. Then make sure you are seen putting it carefully in your business card holder.
Basic foreign language skills
It is highly recommended that before you visit Japan you learn some basic terms and how to introduce yourself. Consider learning the following:
|
My name is |
Watashi Wa (YOUR NAME) dess |
|
Good Morning |
o-hayo gozaimass |
|
Good Afternoon |
Kon-nichi wa |
|
Excuse Me |
Sumimasen |
|
Please |
O kudasai |
|
Thank You |
Arigato |
|
No Thank You |
i-e kekko dess |
It is recommended that you use professional assistance in the preparation of any written or verbal presentation in Japan as you only have once chance to make a good impression.
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