The Global Diversity Desk Reference: Managing an International Workforce

9.3. ESSENTIAL CHANGE AGENT BEHAVIORS

Whether one uses an internal change agent or external, the outcomes of a change process are often linked closely to the person facilitating the change. The change agent has to be savvy enough to understand the overall culture of the organization and astute enough to realize that a multinational organization with operations in Malaysia, Ireland, and Venezuela will be dealing with multiple national cultures as well. Going back to Trompenaars' descriptions of four national cultures, a consultant will have to respond very differently in a location that has a Family culture, which is strongly tied to tradition, and an Incubator culture, where every idea is open to revision and redefinition. The only "tradition" ...