RIDING THE WAVES OF CULTURE FROM CRISIS TO INTEGRATED THOUGHT AND ACTION FONS TROMPENAARS 26 September 2009 Milano, Italy

Key Popositions Current educational programs are built on mutually exclusive logics Teachers, students and graduates are not well equipped to deal with the new realities that multi- and inter-culturalism imposes upon them We need to develop new paradigms of teaching and link it to important issues such as sustainability, leadership and innovation

Our clients and partners

To Create Wealth is to Combine Values That are not easily joined… Therefore scarce... Therefore profitable…. Approaching Dilemmas: Navigating Strategic Tensions

This approach leads to concrete and measurable actions… Impact Time Recognize Increase Awareness Recognize Increase Awareness Respect Appreciate Cultural Differences Respect Appreciate Cultural Differences Reconcile Resolve Cultural Differences Reconcile Resolve Cultural Differences Realize and Root Implement Reconciling Actions Realize and Root Implement Reconciling Actions

“Successful teachers have the propensity and competence to help students reconcile dilemmas for better sustainable results” Core Proposition

Explicit Culture A model of culture Implicit Culture

Is a dynamic process of solving human problems/dilemmas in the areas of… - Human Relationships - Time - Nature About Culture

01/ The Car Accident What happens to your friend?

01/ What right does your friend have? A.My friend has a definite right as a friend to expect me to testify to the lower figure. B.He has some right as a friend to expect me to testify to the lower figure. C.He has no right as a friend to expect me to testify to the lower figure.

01/ Dilemma The top 2 of your corporate values are: 1.Integrity 2.We respect the cultures of others INTEGRITY Please discuss in the context of these values what your answer would be…

Consistency Systems, standards & rules Uniform procedures Demanding of clarity Letter of the law Flexibility Pragmatic Make exceptions “It depends” At ease with ambiguity Spirit of the law 01/ Universalism vs Particularism

Friend has no/some right and would not help 01/ Universalism

Global Standards (Critical Mass) Cultural Diversity (Differing solutions) Globalism and Localism 01/ Dilemma

Global Standards (Critical Mass) (10,10) Transnational Centers of Excellence Cultural Diversity (differing solutions) “Be like US” (1,10) Small Nations Multi-Localism (10,1) 01/ Globalize and Localism

01/ Main Challenges

05/ Achievement versus Ascription STATUS ? What You Do Who You Are

Family Age Gender Education 05/ Achievement versus Ascription Aspects of ascribed status…

‘The most important thing in life is to act as really suits you, even if you don’t get things done’ 05/ Achievement versus Ascription

% Percentage not agreeing with acting as really suits you 05/ Achievement versus Ascription

Attributed status by seniority or role Performance Status Lost democratic leadership (1,10)

05/ Achievement versus Ascription Attributed status by seniority or role Performance Status Follow the Leader (10,1)

05/ Achievement versus Ascription Attributed status by seniority or role Performance Status The Servant Leader (10,10)

05/ Achievement versus Ascription

Dilemma Theory Resolving Strategic Issues DILEMMA (from the Greek meaning) TWO-PROPOSITIONS IN (APPARENT) CONFLICT

CentralisationDecentralisation

Centralising (Knowledge) Decentralising (Activity)

Culture Space Centralising Decentralising

Better Centralised Knowledge of ever more Decentralised Activities Centralising Knowledge Decentralising Activity

Universalism Particularism Vicious and Virtuous Circles

Key Takeaways Instead of emphasizing conflicts between different values, look for opportunities to get more Value A through Value B, and more Value B through Value A Define issues in terms of dilemmas, and avoid compromise Current educational programs are built on mutually exclusive logics Teachers, students and graduates are not well equipped to deal with the new realities that multi- and inter-culturalism imposes upon them Unesco plays a crucial role next to the national educational institutions to start educating the students of today through their teachers to deal with cultural dilemmas more effectively International business has experience that should be diffused We want to help you!

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