Getting Started in the Field of Cross Cultural Learning and Organizational Development

©2016 ITAP International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Getting Started
in the Field of
Cross-Cultural
Learning and
Organizational
Development
Advice from John Bing,
Founder of ITAP International, Inc.

Career Advice from John Bing
• John Bing, ITAP’s founder, has 50+ years
experience in cross-cultural learning and
organizational development.
• Here is his advice for those seeking to
work in this field.
2

Caveat: Experience-Based Advice
• The advice in this presentation is
grounded in experience, not research.
• Research might contradict some of the
advice in this presentation.
3

Personal Reasons to Enter this Field
• People choose a career in cross-cultural
learning and organizational development
for personal reasons.
• For John Bing:
Growing up with parents who had different
cultural backgrounds.
The excitement of binocular vision and seeing
two cultures in depth.
4

Idealism as a Reason to Enter this Field
Cross-cultural learning and organizational
development is one of the few areas of work
that can counter provincialism and nativism
and encourage cosmopolitanism and cross-
border understanding.
• It may not save the world, but the field nudges the
world in the right direction.
5

Many Potential Employers
• Individuals with expertise with crossing
cultures can find employment as
practitioners and or researchers in:
1. Higher education
2. Nonprofits
3. Government
4. Business
6

Many Potential Employers: Academia
and Government
For deeper insights into opportunities in
academia and the government, consider that
• Academic journals can suggest the
departments in colleges or universities in
which cross-cultural research is the strongest.
• A number of government agencies conduct
cross-cultural research, including the Peace
Corps and the Department of Defense.
7

Many Potential Employers:
Small Businesses
• Small businesses: Some start their own
business while others join a small group of
practitioners:
– Caution: Starting one’s own business requires
sufficient financing and a strong business
plan. Any deficiencies at the start may
become part of the business’ DNA.
– Small businesses rarely have the resources to
conduct meaningful research.
8

Consulting Organizations
• It is rare to find positions exclusively for
cross-cultural consultants in large
consulting organizations.
9

Large Businesses
• Large progressive businesses sometimes
have specialists in Human Resources or
Organizational Development who focus on
development or organizational change that
incorporate cross-cultural research.
– Geert Hofstede’s research began at IBM.
10

Bridging Research and Practice
• The use of research-proven approaches is
meaningful to many clients and develops a
scientific foundation for the profession.
– Consider making research part of your
practice.
• Practitioners that bridge research and
practice are in a strong position to add
value to their clients’ organizations.
11

John Bing’s Career Path
• Peace Corps in Afghanistan.
• Peace Corps Office of Training.
• A nonprofit in Estes Park, Colorado, where
he developed the first Peace Corps cross-
cultural training manuals based on an
experiential approach.
– Until then, the training has been based on
area studies lectures and readings.
12

John Bing and ITAP
• John Bing founded ITAP in 1986 (formerly
International Training Associates of
Princeton).
• Forging strategic alliances with other firms,
ITAP serves global clients across multiple
geographies.
13

Four Windows Approach
• Early on, a client of ITAP wanted insight
into cultural differences within a group.
• This led to the “four windows” approach to
differences.
14

Four Windows Approach to Differences
Within a Group (1 of 2)
• Individual (or personality): Can be
measured by personality inventories such
as the MBTI.
• Cultural: Can be measured by approaches
such as Geert Hofstede’s and the Culture
in the Workplace QuestionnaireTM that
John Bing developed in collaboration with
Dr. Hofstede.
15

Four Windows Approach to Differences
Within a Group (2 of 2)
• Environmental: Primarily economic
measures, such as GDP, unemployment,
degree of inequality, etc.
• Organizational: Organizational practices,
as they influence employees.
16

The Four Windows Approach
• Each of these factors influences individual
behaviors. They’re important to consider
when teaching clients about other
geographies.
– Practitioners may add additional factors.
17

Bridging Research and Practice
• John Bing forged a business agreement
between ITAP and Geert Hofstede.
• ITAP developed the Culture in the
Workplace QuestionnaireTM (CWQ) based
on Hofstede’s Values Survey Module
(VSM).
18

ITAP’s Research
• Recent analysis shows that the data
collected through ITAP’s Culture in the
Workplace QuestionnaireTM and
Hofstede’s VSM are correlated.
• The research helps show that Hofstede’s
results have been consistent over time.
19

ITAP’s Work with Clients
20
Clients turn to ITAP for help with:
1. Global talent retention and development
2. Effectiveness of the senior team and mission
critical global teams
3. Global leader and global workforce
development
4. Cross-border transformation and change
Ensure that culture is an asset, not a
barrier in your global business.

21
Clients often testify to the positive results
achieved from ITAP’s tools & approaches
You showed your commitment to building our relationship by giving us
content up front, before we even had an agreement.
German/US American Medical Devices Company
This is impressive work. You have captured the voices of each of the
groups. Thanks – we know you've gone beyond the contract.
VP of Diversity at a global pharmaceutical company
Without hesitation, ITAP exceeded our very high expectations. We will
look forward to partnering with you again in the future.
Organizational Effectiveness Group Manager at a global financial services company

22
Questions? Call us...
Catherine Mercer Bing
CEO, ITAP International, Inc.
Managing Director, ITAP Americas, Inc.
353 Nassau Street, First Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
(W) +1.215.860.5640
(M) +1.609.937.1557
http://www.itapintl.com
cbing@itapintl.com
SKYPE: CatherineBing

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