International Profiler - Case Studies

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Electrolux
The International Profiler is an integral tool for the smooth adaptation of expatriate professionals within the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) relocating to its European Centre in Pordenone, Italy. All new expatriates carry out The International Profiler with subsequent individual feedback and coaching to close gaps which may inhibit their ability to both adapt to the local environment and work within a multicultural department. The results and feedback have provided a critical opportunity for the IDC team to understand just what is needed to take on a complex international role and to identify specific actions to meet those challenges at a personal level. In the Electrolux case, expatriates receive the Profiler in the context of a session on Working with Italians which helps them steer a more sensitive course through the inevitable cultural differences they will face during their work in an Italian environment. Of nearly 20 senior designers I took through the International Profiler process, most began the feedback session with a wink and a throwaway “my turn to be psychoanalysed is it?” and left the sessions with some profound and unexpected insights into how they personally approached this international assignment. Apart from helping the individual in identifying priority developmental actions, Paul Flowers, a Design Manager with Electrolux in Italy, says "The International Profiler is an excellent team building tool - both in identifying the competences you lack and in bringing out and building on the skills you have within your team. It is also ideal for putting your own skills into context and preparing for forthcoming assignments".

Telecom Italia
As part of an talent development process, Telecom Italia has linked The International Profiler to a programme called ‘Managing a World of Difference’ for its high potential people. Over a period of one year, those selected to manage the international dimension of Telecom Italia’s activity pass through a series of 5 two-day modules specifically designed to develop both their international skills and competences as well as to sensitise them to other diversity related areas (eg. cross-functional teamwork, gender, personality preferences and organisational cultures). This programme has been designed around the WorldWork’s international competency set which is then explicitly linked to key internal management competences such as open-mindedness, communication skills, persuasiveness and teambuilding. At the end of the modules participants complete The International Profiler and receive individual telephone feedback and coaching at a distance over a period of six months. The aim is to channel the learning on the programme into a much more personal commitment to developing international competences than is normal within traditional group training. In fact, each of the 35 action plans resulting from The International Profiler during the first edition of the programme had a different focus – touching on everything from structured plans to develop stronger influencing skills in contexts of cultural diversity to increased acceptance of new ideas through the attending of evening classes in comparative religions! The combination of the trust built up throughout the programme with the trainer and the subsequent discussion around The International Profiler results became a potent catalyst for commitment to change which otherwise would have been unachievable. As one participant said “As a follow-up to the workshops… we analysed with the trainer the results of The International Profiler questionnaire and I must say that this was the final magic ingredient in what I can only call a programme close to perfection”. This year Telecom Italia have put a further 60 high potentials through the programme.

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