Master's thesis on Intercultural Training in Business Practice deals with the intercultural communication, opportunities for its improvement through intercultural training and actual practices in czech companies when using it. The theoretical part defines the concepts of culture, intercultural communication and intercultural training. The practical part includes research in firms in the czech market through a survey and case study in a chosen company. Based on the findings, the last part of the thesis includes proposals, how should companies use intercultural training and what are their options including a summary of their main advantages and limitations.

Emotions have been noted for their crucial role in survival behaviour relating to resistance to cross-cultural ambiguity. Today's globalised multinational corporations (MNCs) have recognised the importance of developing their diverse workforces' intercultural sensitivity (ICS) – a worldview towards cultural difference – as a means of reducing resistance to cross-cultural ambiguity hence maintaining a professional multicultural work environment. However, no studies have yet been made investigating the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in enhancing intercultural sensitivity and simultaneously regulating emotions produced from resistance to cultural difference. Therefore, this study has explored the role of EI in enhancing ICS aiming at increasing the effectiveness of intercultural training within the context of multinational organisations. A theoretical framework was constructed presenting the idea of EI entry-points into intercultural sensitivity and resistance to difference. Through an inductive research approach, a chosen multinational airline company's flight attendants were targeted with in-depth semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory analysis was applied. The analysis resulted in the development of a grounded emotional-cognitive intercultural adaptation process together with three adaptive cognitive states. These were named: Learn, Understand, and Know. Each cognitive state was noted to be associated with a particular emotional state that causes the interacting individual to shift into the relevant cognitive state. The emotions surprise and curiosity were found to be associated with Learn while empathy was found to be associated with Understand, and finally acceptance was found to be associated with Know. The research results strongly support the proposed EI entry-points within the grounded emotional-cognitive content of the produced intercultural adaptation process. The results address the research aim regarding the role of EI in enhancing ICS. Through the EI entry-points, ICS is indirectly enhanced through the development of intercultural performance as EI mental abilities are proposed which would regulate one's behaviour towards the three grounded emotional-cognitive intercultural adaptation states. The developed model is suggested to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of intercultural training. The trainee's intercultural performance could be enhanced through directing the emotional-cognitive dynamics, during intercultural interaction, towards the empirically grounded set of emotional-cognitive states. As linking EI and ICS remains an important and under-explored topic, it is hoped that the findings of this study will present a better understanding of the dynamics of emotions within the context of multinational organisations, as well as the role of EI in enhancing ICS, subsequently leading to further research.

These Spanish-Czech cultural standards could be useful as a part of intercultural trainings made for Czech managers and workers who want to be prepared for a stay in Spain or any contact with Spanish culture. The theoretical part explains different related terminology necessary for a correct use of the standards. It involves terms like social interaction, communication and intercultural communication. The practical part describes the basic characteristics of the country, political and economical system, business dealings and diplomatic protocol. The core of the thesis is the chapter Czech-Spanish cultural standards which analyzes the main differences of Czech and Spanish cultures elaborated according to the executed interviews.

The goal of the thesis "The use of intercultural training for VŠE exchange students before leaving the university to study abroad" are: -to capture and to evaluate the change of student's personal characteristics after the arrival from abroad such as language skills, international experience, peer and family relationships and simplicity of establishment of relations - to create a suitable tool for evaluation of intercultural competence of VŠE exchange students who are interested in studying abroad -to bring useful information or to make a structure of intercultural training, which VŠE in the future could use to prepare students for study abroad - to compare two forms of intercultural training: an information meeting, which took place at VŠE with personal participation of students and electronic presentation without personal participation - to create a profile of VŠE students who are interested in studying abroad

The final thesis deals with the creation of a cultural assimilator designed for foreign students and workers who have chosen to work or study at BUT. At the same time, it deals with the improvement of already existing processes of adaptation, information and integration of the assimilator into these processes. The diploma thesis includes an analysis of the current state, respectively tools and materials for adaptation, which BUT currently uses. The proposed concept can be used for the integration of foreign students and staff into the university environment.

Masters´s thesis is analysing through questionnaires and conversations experience of management of the companies in the Czech Republic in the area of intercultural communication and intercultural training. It contains suggestions which will lead to rise of labour productivity in the companies doing business in the multicultural environment.

Till följd av internationalisering och globalisering har vikten av kunskap om interkulturella fenomen blivit allt viktigare. Genom att öka den kulturella medvetenheten, kan de kulturkrockar och missförstånd som okunskap ger upphov till i förlängningen förebyggas, och resultatet och utbytet av denna interaktion förbättras. Syftet med den här studien var att lyfta fram kunskap om hur interkulturell träning är uppbyggd och utifrån vilka antaganden om interkulturell kompetens utbildningsanordnare utformar sina träningsprogram. Vår teoretiska referensram utgjordes av bland annat centrala kulturella begrepp och Hofstedes kulturella dimensioner. Vi genomförde sju stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med utbildningsanordnare runt om i Sverige. Ur materialet växte ett antal kategorier fram rörande interkulturell tränings utformning och syfte, rörande utvärdering av interkulturell träning, stöd för expatriater, utvecklingen av interkulturell träning i Sverige, samt kostnader förknippade med interkulturell träning. Resultaten pekade på att interkulturella träningsprogram i stort sett är utformade på liknande sätt, där teori kombineras med praktik, och element som kulturchock, anpassningsprocessen, interkulturell kommunikation och svårigheter kring repatriation belyses. Interkulturell träning skall ge en ökad förståelse och medvetenhet inom ramen av interkultur och skräddarsys efter varje individs och organisations specifika behov och önskemål. Studiens resultat stödde i mångt och mycket tidigare forskningsresultat, men konkluderade också att det fortfarande finns stora brister när det kommer till mängden träning och utvärdering av denna. Följaktligen lämnade resultatet mycket att önska av framtida forskning och inte minst av dagens internationella företag, som fortfarande inte insett vilken framgångsfaktor interkulturell träning är. / Due to internationalisation and globalisation, the significance of intercultural competence has become more and more important. By increasing cultural awareness, the culture shocks and misunderstandings that ignorance fuels can in the long run be prevented, and the result and exchange of this interaction can be improved. The purpose of this study was to bring knowledge to how intercultural training is composed and from which assumptions concerning intercultural competence, education organisers design their training programs. The theoretical frame of reference constituted central cultural elements as well as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Seven semi-structured interviews, with education organisers in Sweden, were carried out. From the information gathered, a number of categories was found regarding intercultural training design, evaluation of intercultural training, support for expatriates, the development of intercultural training in Sweden, and costs associated with intercultural training. The results showed that intercultural training programs are mostly similarly designed where theory is combined with practice sessions and they illustrate culture shock, the U-curve, intercultural communication, and the difficulties concerning repatriation, among other things. Intercultural training shall give an increased understanding and awareness within the frame of interculture and be customised to fit the needs and desires of each individual and each organisation. The results of the study to great extent supported earlier research results, but also established that there are great flaws as regards to the amount of training and the evaluation of the same. Consequently, the results left much to desire of future research, not least from today’s international organisations, which still have not realized the success factor that intercultural training is.

<p>Till följd av internationalisering och globalisering har vikten av kunskap om interkulturella fenomen blivit allt viktigare. Genom att öka den kulturella medvetenheten, kan de kulturkrockar och missförstånd som okunskap ger upphov till i förlängningen förebyggas, och resultatet och utbytet av denna interaktion förbättras. Syftet med den här studien var att lyfta fram kunskap om hur interkulturell träning är uppbyggd och utifrån vilka antaganden om interkulturell kompetens utbildningsanordnare utformar sina träningsprogram. Vår teoretiska referensram utgjordes av bland annat centrala kulturella begrepp och Hofstedes kulturella dimensioner. Vi genomförde sju stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med utbildningsanordnare runt om i Sverige. Ur materialet växte ett antal kategorier fram rörande interkulturell tränings utformning och syfte, rörande utvärdering av interkulturell träning, stöd för expatriater, utvecklingen av interkulturell träning i Sverige, samt kostnader förknippade med interkulturell träning. Resultaten pekade på att interkulturella träningsprogram i stort sett är utformade på liknande sätt, där teori kombineras med praktik, och element som kulturchock, anpassningsprocessen, interkulturell kommunikation och svårigheter kring repatriation belyses. Interkulturell träning skall ge en ökad förståelse och medvetenhet inom ramen av interkultur och skräddarsys efter varje individs och organisations specifika behov och önskemål. Studiens resultat stödde i mångt och mycket tidigare forskningsresultat, men konkluderade också att det fortfarande finns stora brister när det kommer till mängden träning och utvärdering av denna. Följaktligen lämnade resultatet mycket att önska av framtida forskning och inte minst av dagens internationella företag, som fortfarande inte insett vilken framgångsfaktor interkulturell träning är.</p> / <p>Due to internationalisation and globalisation, the significance of intercultural competence has become more and more important. By increasing cultural awareness, the culture shocks and misunderstandings that ignorance fuels can in the long run be prevented, and the result and exchange of this interaction can be improved. The purpose of this study was to bring knowledge to how intercultural training is composed and from which assumptions concerning intercultural competence, education organisers design their training programs. The theoretical frame of reference constituted central cultural elements as well as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Seven semi-structured interviews, with education organisers in Sweden, were carried out. From the information gathered, a number of categories was found regarding intercultural training design, evaluation of intercultural training, support for expatriates, the development of intercultural training in Sweden, and costs associated with intercultural training. The results showed that intercultural training programs are mostly similarly designed where theory is combined with practice sessions and they illustrate culture shock, the U-curve, intercultural communication, and the difficulties concerning repatriation, among other things. Intercultural training shall give an increased understanding and awareness within the frame of interculture and be customised to fit the needs and desires of each individual and each organisation. The results of the study to great extent supported earlier research results, but also established that there are great flaws as regards to the amount of training and the evaluation of the same. Consequently, the results left much to desire of future research, not least from today’s international organisations, which still have not realized the success factor that intercultural training is.</p>

Dans les dernières décennies, l’augmentation de l’immigration et sa diversification a mené le gouvernement québécois à s’adapter à cette nouvelle réalité de différentes manières. Dans cette optique, en 1998, le ministère de l'Éducation du Québec a mis sur pied la Politique d'intégration scolaire et d'éducation interculturelle de laquelle a découlé un Plan d’action qui propose différentes pistes afin de concrétiser les principes et orientations de cette même politique. Dans le but de soutenir le personnel du réseau scolaire québécois dans l’implantation de cette nouvelle vision, des sessions de formation interculturelle ont été créées à l'intention des enseignants, des professionnels non enseignants ainsi que des directions scolaires. L’étude des enjeux de la diversité ethnoculturelle dans les établissements scolaires via les formations interculturelles a permis de mettre en lumière la vision des intervenants scolaires ayant assisté à ces sessions. Leurs perceptions ont pu être mises en relation avec les diverses stratégies proposées par les chercheurs-formateurs afin d’analyser plus en profondeur la dynamique entre la diversité ethnoculturelle et les institutions scolaires. Divers enjeux sont ressortis des entrevues et formations et seront discutés: la pérennité de l'identité québécoise, l'éthique de l'enseignant ainsi que la complexité de la réflexion amorcée par les intervenants scolaires. Nous montrons comment la rencontre avec l'Autre force la réflexion sur le Soi quotidiennement notamment à travers le discours interculturel qu’entretiennent les intervenants scolaires, les différentes valeurs en présence dans leur milieu professionnel et la réflexivité préconisée par les formateurs. / In the last decades, increased and more diverse immigration has lead the government of Quebec taken different measures aimed to deal with this new reality. Thus, in 1998, the Quebec ministère d’Éducation established the Politique d’intégration scolaire et d’éducation interculturelle from which followed a Plan d’action that suggests many ways to achieve its principles and goals. To help implement this new vision, intercultural training sessions were created for teachers, non-teaching staff and principals. The study of ethnocultural diversity’s challenges in schools through intercultural training has shed light on school staff members’ point of view. Their perceptions were used along the various strategies of both researchers and trainers to further analyse the dynamic between schools and ethnocultural diversity. Many issues arose during training sessions and interviews with school staff members that are discussed in the thesis: the future of Quebec’s identity, the teacher’s ethics and various complex issues raised by school staff members. I show how the encounter with the Other obliges daily reflection on the self by the teachers, in particular, through the intercultural discourse of the actors in the school setting, the different values present in the professional milieu, and the reflexivity promoted by those in charge of their training.

Au cours de ces dernières années, le concept des compétences interculturelles s'est institué comme un mot-clé important. Que ce soit dans le champ de la formation scolaire, universitaire ou dans le domaine de la formation continue des employés dans les entreprises : les compétences interculturelles sont souvent décrites comme compétences clés du XXIe siècle. Au regard d’une mondialisation croissante et de l'expansion des marchés mondiaux sur les régions asiatique et sud-américaine, les pays voisins européens peuvent quelque fois tomber dans l’oubli dans les discours sur l’interculturalité. L’ouvrage présent met l’accent notamment sur la France et l’Allemagne. Au regard du dialogue et de l’échange franco-allemand, nous observons que celui-ci est parfois rendu compliqué par des divergences culturelles. La présente étude vise à analyser également sous forme d’une vaste étude empirique, comment et dans quelles mesures les compétences interculturelles influencent les coopérations universitaires entre la France et l’Allemagne.L’étude empirique a été réalisée sous forme d’une enquête en ligne avec 1131 participants. Le groupe cible se composait des groupes suivants : étudiants, doctorants, professeurs et chercheurs ainsi que les employés (Services des Relations Internationales) des universités et grandes écoles françaises et allemandes.L’évaluation des données a révélé des résultats très informatifs sur l’état actuel des relations universitaires entre la France et l’Allemagne. Les multiples analyses des questions ont illustré des faits très positifs, comme par exemple, l’intérêt mutuel des Français et Allemands concernant les relations franco-allemandes, ou des aspects négatifs, comme le taux de malentendus en contexte franco-allemand.Les résultats de l’étude offrent des points de départ, à partir desquels pourrait être obtenue une amélioration des relations universitaires franco-allemands et des compétences interculturelles en contexte franco-allemand. / During the last years, the concept of intercultural competence has developed into becoming a very important key term. Whether it is in the area of education at school or at university, or in the area of professional training of employees in international companies: intercultural competence is often described as key term of the 21st century.Given the advancing globalization and the expansion of international markets towards Asian and South-American regions, our European neighbours may sometimes be left aside in discussions about interculturality. The present thesis focuses on the following two countries: France and Germany. With regard to the Franco-German dialogue and exchange, we observe that these two aspects are sometimes complicated by cultural differences. The present empirical study will analyze in which way and to which extend intercultural competence influences the relations between French and German universities.The empirical study has been conducted as an online survey with 1131 participants. The target group consisted of the following groups: students, doctoral candidates, professors and researchers as well as employees of French and German universities and grandes écoles.The evaluation of the data reveals very significant results with regard to the status quo of the relations between French and German universities. The multiple analyses showed positive aspects, for example a very high mutual interest of the French and Germans for the Franco-German relations, as well as negative aspects, such as a very high rate of intercultural misapprehensions in the Franco-German context.The results of the study offer a basis from which an improvement of the cooperation between French and German universities and intercultural competence in the Franco-German context could be accomplished.