1. Intercultural Competences
How to behave in
an international
environment
Jan Bollen /

2. Agenda Competences, 3 levels Stereotypes Good wrong ? Gestures
Onion model
The cultural iceberg
Hofstede cultural dimensions
Conclusion

3. Intercultural competence is …
… having the knowledge, skills, behaviour and attitudes
to communicate effectively with cultures other than your own

4. 3 levels Mind, Skills and Heart
A Mind set
Knowledge
A Skill set
Abilities
A Heart set
Attitudes

5. Left Right, what is good 6 / 9 what is real

6. Gestures 2

7. Opening a meeting

8. Onion model, peel off

9. The Cultural iceberg Dress Food Language Behaviour Attitudes
Implicit assumptions
Values
Mindsets
Attitudes

10. The Cultural iceberg

11. Earring At what age do girls get earring wholes in their ear?
Age: Year / Week / Day
2 reasons
Proud to have a GIRL
Pain (less)

12. Useful skills

13. Hofstede Cultural dimensions

14. Power distance index
The Power Distance Index (PDI) is the cultural dimension who looks at
how much a culture does or does not
value hierarchical relationships and respect for authority

15. Individualism Individualism is the cultural dimension who looks at
how much a culture respects the rights of the individual versus those of the group (whether family or company).

16. Individualism - Collectivism

17. Individualism - Collectivism and Power distance

18. Masculinity
Masculinity is the intercultural dimensions who looks at the degree of
Masculine Feminine
aggressive responsive
hard / rough soft / gentle
sequential spatial
one task multi tasking
hide emotions show emotions
not talkative very talkative
result process
forceful loyal
competitive co-operation
dominant follower
materialistic relationship
left brain right brain

19. Uncertainty Avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance is the cultural dimension what measures
culture's preference for
strict laws and regulations over double meaning and risk.

20. Long term orientation
Long-term versus short terms orientation cultural dimension deals with
time horizon differences between societies.
long-term orientation societies focus on the future, they follow cultural trends.
short-term orientation, focus on  immediate gratification and are money-orientated

21. China vs Netherlands

22. 2 Questions What did you learn? How will you behave in the Netherlands?

23. Conclusions and Thank YOU Jan Bollen / QQ 1973607744