Preparatory Phase: The bridge towards the new culture

As soon as the future expatriates are nominated by the company, the preparatory activities can start. To prepare the managers and their families to understand the new culture and environment in France, we provides two types of assistance:

• Cross-cultural training for executives and their families
• Pre-move Orientation Tour "Look & See": Practical information and pre-selection of housing areas

Each of these two types of assistance can of course be booked individually or together as a package.

Cross-cultural training for executives and their families

Objectives of our assistance

The cross-cultural training of the future expatriates and their families fulfills two main objectives:

• To develop realistic expectations concerning life and work in France
• To understand the behavior of local people in a number of important situations
• To know possible areas of cross-cultural conflicts and to know how to manage them in a constructive way

The cross-cultural training should facilitate the acclimatization of the expatriate and his/her family in the new country. This helps to reduce the failure rate and the number of foreign assignments to be interrupted due to cultural conflicts and personal discontent.

Contents and methodology of our approach

The cross-cultural training program will be adapted to the specific needs and interests of the customer. Normally each training course is carried out individually for one expatriate and his/her family members coming to France.

Depending on the customer's experiences and expectations, the cross-cultural training lasts one to three days. It is carried out here in France or on the customer's premises. The training program consists of different modules which can be individually chosen and combined.

Examples of training modules:

1. 1. Information about the country, introduction to culture and history
2. The norms and values of the French society
3. The role and the characteristics of communication in France
4. Social contacts: Friends and acquaintances
5. Women life and role in France
6. Leisure activities and customs in France
7. Eating and drinking in France
8. The relations at work and management of French personnel
9. Doing business with French partners
10. Education in France
11. Studies and professional training in France
12. Action plan of the expatriate for the first two months in France

The training is highly interactive. It is based on different training methods and pedagogic instruments: Presentations, discussions, case studies, structured exercises, role plays, a quiz, reports of expatriates etc.

Premove orientation tour "Look & See": Practical information and preselection of housing areas

Objectives of our assistance

To better know the future city or region and to make a first selection of housing areas, we provide a pre-move orientation tour "Look & See". The objectives of this tour are:

• To obtain practical pre-move information to facilitate the further steps of decision taking
• To be able to make a pre-selection of adequate housing areas
• To reduce possible fears concerning the future move to France

Contents and methodology of our approach

Depending on the needs of the customer, Management Mobility Consulting develops an individual "Look & See" Program. The duration of the tour and the contents of the program largely depend on the agenda and expectations of the participants.

Example of a pre-move orientation tour "Look & See" in Paris and in selected suburbs:

• Practical Information about accommodation renting in the region, transport, schools, bank system, health, shopping etc.
• Visits of several districts and housing areas in Paris and in selected suburbs, visits of different types of individual houses and apartments