Preparing for expatriation to South AfricaAgrochemicals

A new engineer responsible for the subsidiary in South Africa and his wife prepare for a 3-year mission in Johannesburg.

This program has helped me to become aware of the complexity of South African society and adapt my communication style to manage a team there.

Mr. D. – Engineer responsible for the subsidiary in South Africa

Context

Mr. D. was appointed head of the South African subsidiary of a large German chemical group for a period of 3 years.

The development of this subsidiary is strategic for the group. Management wants to give him every chance to succeed and decided to train Mr. D. and his wife to help them to integrate into life in South Africa.

solution

• Interview with Mr. D., his wife and the expert on South Africa to determine their needs and how much they knew about the country
• Cultural Profiling: a tool used before training to help Mr. D become aware of his cultural preferences and orientations compared to those of South Africans
 One-day program on South African society, the values ​​and behavior to adopt in the workplace
• A hotline was set up by the expert for the first two months to accompany Mr. D. and his wife in their expatriation

At stake for
the company

• Mr. D. has very good technical and managerial skills, but for this mission needed to improve his knowledge of South African society and culture.
• 40% of expatriations end sooner than expected due to lack of preparation. This was a financial risk for the company but also a risk for the career and morale of the expatriate.

Benefits

The expatriate and his family leave confidently with sound knowledge of a rich and complex society
 Mr. D. is better prepared to adapt his style of communication and management to South Africans
 A well-prepared expatriation minimizes the risk of culture shock

More information about country specific training?