Hot Topics and Articles

New Articles brought to you by Dean Foster Associates

*new* Architecture of Strategic Talent Management, by Dean Foster and Lauren Herring, CRP, SGMS

*new* CULTURE AND THE CRASH: Exploring the Connection Between People's Responses to the Economic Crisis and Their Culture, by Dean Foster and Nicole Barile, GMS

WORKING WITH “CULTURES OF SIMILARITY”:
Managing the Hidden Differences Between the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.

GLOBAL POSITIONING:
Negotiating in the Post-Global World

NOW, MORE THAN EVER.
In tough global times, only those organizations with fully developed global mindsets will survive.

SEARCHING FOR SYNERGY:
The Critical Link Between Intercultural Online Tools and Intercultural Classroom Training

Don't Blend In, by Dean Foster

Cross-cultural training for the post-global world, by Dean Foster Associates

ONWARD!: Training the Perpetual Expatriate, by Dean Foster

Tour South Africa, by Dean Foster Associates

Do Expatriates Really Need Cross-Cultural Training?
While the idea of cross-cultural training may still be new to some, many organizations that have been operating in the international arena for the last decade have come to embrace the values of such training. These organizations have learned the merits of cross-cultural training. With this type of training, work can go more quickly and smoothly and companies avoid costly mistakes.

Technical Faux Pas in International Business
Cultural differences impact the way that resumes, email, fax, cell phones, and chat should be used in international business.

Western Workers, Eastern Ethos: The Ying and Yang of Managing in Asia
Like the two parts of the universal whole, as represented in the Buddhist symbol of yin and yang, both East and West must ultimately accept that they are each only half the story of what, only with the other, will result in a perfect combination. Unless both East and West value and understand what the other brings to the formula, we will have an imperfect and less-than-satisfactory union.

Gender and Work in a Global World
Regardless of the reasons, men and women certainly are different, and if those differences are made clear within a particular culture, those same differences become ever more striking between cultures.

What We've Learned About Impatriate Training
A surprising 98% of survey respondents said they have conducted training within the last year for their organization's overseas partners or associates working in North America. This question was quite specific in soliciting information about training per se as separate from other possible support services, such as housing, guidance, relocation, etc. Follow-up questions revealed the nature of the training provided.

Training the Youngest Family Members for the International Assignment
Children's needs vary with age much more dramatically than the needs of adults. We know that young single adults, for example, in their twenties, have needs when relocating abroad that are very different from married older adults: the same is true with children, only more so. For children, not only do the needs vary greatly with age, but become significantly more challenging as they get older.

Even Valentine's Day is Becoming More Globalized
The American culture is contageous. For example, more countries around the world are now celebrating Valentine's Day, according to Dean Foster. As more people communicate via the Internet or frequent traveling, ideas are spread more rapidly.

RELOCOMMUNICATION: Defining the Heart of International Relocation Training
The primary needs of international assignees are still not being addressed to the degree necessary by IHR service providers. This article will take a closer look at what those needs are, and make some suggestions for more successfully addressing them than the current situation presently provides.

GLOBAL GIFTS: Do's and Don'ts for Celebrating the Holidays Around the World
Holiday gift-giving can be a little tricky when giving gifts to international associates. Cultural differences can make a terrific gift at home into a terrible no-no abroad. Here are some cross-cultural gift-giving considerations.

Deciphering the Mysterious American: Challenges of Working & Living in the U.S.
Believing that people are essentially the same, and that given the chance most people would opt to live typically American lives (however that may be defined), is an unique American myth which that mirrors American egalitarian values more than it mirrors reality. The fact is, many non-Americans can find living and working in the U.S. a challenging and difficult assignment. This has important consequences for companies relocating employees and families into the U.S. from abroad.