CONNECT:

MATCHING HIGH POTENTIALS AND EMPOYERS

Workshop: the impact of cultural differences

- working in the Dutch environment 29 October 2015; 18.30 - 21.00 hour
T.B.A.
5 November 2015; 18.30 - 21.00 hour
T.B.A.
Teacher:

Candida Snow is an intercultural management specialist. She designs and delivers

intercultural training programmes to a broad spectrum of profit and non-profit
organisations all over Europe, including a number of schools, universities and
business schools. For further details please see her website (www.snowcc.info) or
LinkedIn page (http://nl.linkedin.com/in/candidasnow). Candida is British and
speaks fluent Dutch. She will deliver the workshop in English

Goal

To address the role and impact that cultural differences can have on applicant and
employer/employee interaction, behaviour, performance and relations within the
Dutch context.

Subjects

1. Awareness
Create awareness of what is culture and how culture processes work.
Allow the students to experience the cognitive and affective effect of
culture on assumptions, expectations and behaviour.
2. Sensitising
Give participants insight into their own national culture and how this
affects their behaviour, reactions, assumptions and expectations within
the context of the Dutch labour market.
Give participants insight into the cultural drivers which determine the
behaviour and expectations of the Dutch ( employers, interviewers etc.).
Where are the differences and where are the similarities with their own
culture?
When and how do these differences impact on situations relevant to job
seeking and employment in the Dutch context? i.e. communication, CVs,
management style, teamwork etc.

Programme: Workshop 1
Introduction to culture
What is culture? How does it work and how does it affect us?
What perceptions/stereotypes do participants hold of the Dutch?
A Cultural survey
Participants define their own cultural profile and get a better
understanding of their own cultural values which drive their behaviour i.e.
how typically Mexican/Indian/French etc. am I and what does that mean?
Insight into the nature and impact of national cultural differences
Workshop, with various exercises, on the drivers behind the behaviour
and attitudes of the Dutch culture in comparison to those of the
participants cultures
Practical implications of these differences for participants in the Dutch
work environment
How to use Professor Geert Hofstedes 4-D culture model as a tool to
recognise and deal with these cultural differences
Workshop 2
Group exercises and role plays
Putting the insights and understanding from the first session into practice
Participants analyse and discuss mini-cases based on realistic practical
situations, including their own experiences.
What is the situation?
How and where does culture play a role?
What are the perceptions and expectations of the parties involved?
Practice - using strategies, tools and communication styles to deal with
the situation comfortably, professionally and effectively

Preparation:

Homework assignment
Practical assignment as preparation for second workshop