Training Cross-Cultural Competence in Organisations: A Qualitative and Cultural Intelligence Based Evaluation of ECCO's Cross-Cultural Training Programme
Author
Olesen, Anne Tværsig
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2013
Submitted on
2013-05-31
Pages
78
Abstract
This thesis examines how international companies can prepare employees for expatriation through cross-cultural training, presenting a qualitative evaluation of ECCO's three-day training seminar for newly hired trainees. The study draws on qualitative interviews with two ECCO employees, the seminar trainer, and nine trainees, and is framed by theories of social constructionism, culture, communication, and learning, with a particular focus on cultural intelligence (CQ), which encompasses cognitive, motivational, and behavioral capabilities. The seminar is assessed along four dimensions: its learning potential, participants’ outcomes, preparedness for expatriation, and achievement of ECCO's and the trainer’s goals. The analysis indicates strong learning potential, notably because all three facets of CQ are developed through an integrated blend of informational and experiential methods. Participants reported increased self-insight, general and specific cultural knowledge, improved understanding of cultural differences, and concrete strategies for adaptation, and most felt better prepared for expatriation. The seminar thus appears to meet its primary aims, including strengthening motivation for international assignments. The thesis also identifies areas for improvement: placing greater emphasis on cultural learning relative to personal learning, providing more general cultural information, and communicating more clearly about the scope and limits of learning to support application across the entire trainee period.
Specialet undersøger, hvordan internationale virksomheder kan forberede medarbejdere på udstationering gennem tværkulturel træning, med fokus på en kvalitativ evaluering af ECCO's tredages træningsseminar for nyansatte trainees. Undersøgelsen bygger på kvalitative interviews med to ECCO-medarbejdere, seminarets træner og ni deltagere, samt en teoretisk ramme bestående af socialkonstruktionisme, kultur-, kommunikations- og læringsteori og særligt konceptet kulturel intelligens (CQ), der omfatter kognitive, motivationelle og adfærdsmæssige kompetencer. Seminaret vurderes ud fra fire vinkler: dets læringspotentiale, deltagernes udbytte, forberedelse til udstationering og målopfyldelse i forhold til ECCO's og trænerens intentioner. Analysen peger på et stort læringspotentiale, bl.a. fordi alle tre CQ-facetter trænes gennem en integreret kombination af informations- og erfaringsbaserede metoder. Deltagerne rapporterede øget selvindsigt, generel og specifik kulturviden, bedre forståelse for kulturforskelle og konkrete strategier til tilpasning, og de fleste følte sig bedre forberedt på udstationering. Seminaret ser dermed ud til at opfylde sine primære mål, herunder at styrke motivationen for udstationering. Specialet peger også på forbedringsmuligheder: større vægt på kulturel læring i forhold til personlig læring, mere kulturgenerel information og tydeligere metakommunikation om læringens omfang og begrænsninger, så deltagerne bedre kan anvende udbyttet gennem hele traineeperioden.
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