Three Steps

Step 1 – Learn

In this first step you and your colleagues learn about cultural differences:

Specific to the topic you have selected first respond to the questions on Exercises. Then read and reflect on the responses from your peers. Finally, read and reflect on our analysis about that topic. Be sure to look at the Patterns. They contain examples illustrating how the two countries think and work. 

Step 2 – Discuss

In this second step you and your colleagues deepen that understanding by discussing those cultural differences:

First Conversation

Specific to the selected topic, identify those differences which are exerting the most influence on cross-border collaboration. This is a conversation with yourself. Focus on what is not working. Share those differences with your colleagues from the same-country. They will do the same with you. Your colleagues from the other-countries will do the same on their side.

Second Conversation

Reflect on the differences submitted by your same-country colleagues. Then meet as same-country group. Discuss the influence of those differences on collaboration. Decide which of them should be discussed with your colleagues from the other-countries. Then share those cultural differences with them. They will do the same with you.

Third Conversation

Reflect on the differences submitted by your colleagues from the other-countries. Then meet as an all-countries group. The entire team. Discuss the influence of cultural differences on your collaboration. You are deepening your understanding of each other. About how you think. About how you work.

Step 3 – Apply

In this third step you and your colleagues apply what you have learned and discussed about cultural differences to how you collaborate. Again, three conversations: 

First Conversation

Specific to the selected topic, reflect on the current state of collaboration. This is a conversation with yourself. Recommend how the countries involved can better collaborate. Share those recommendations with your colleagues from the same-country. They will do the same with you. And your colleagues from the other-countries will do the same on their side.

Second Conversation

Reflect on the recommendations submitted by your same-country colleagues. Then meet as same-country group. Discuss the submitted recommendations. Decide which of them should be discussed with your colleagues from the other-countries. Then share those recommendations with them. They will do the same with you.

Third Conversation

Reflect on the recommendations submitted by your colleagues from the other-countries. Then meet as all-countries group. Again, the entire team. Discuss the recommendations submitted. Decide which of them should be implemented. Now implement, monitor, and improve.


Back to Exercises.