The Essay That Started It All

This is the last entry in the Dream Wizards series. Please scroll down to the January 2007 entry to start at the beginning of the series.

The following is a summary of the work I did with Dr. Boniface Etuk in the early 1990's. Boniface asked me to summarize a case study he had done on a training program developed by the Manitoba Institute of Management (MIM no longer is in operation).

Project Development Training as a Mechanism for Intercultural Technology Transfer

A Definition of Intercultural Technology Transfer

The broad definition of Intercultural Technology Transfer (ITT) is the exchange of anything man-made (language, symbols, frameworks, ideas, skills, expertise, processes, knowledge, equipment) between two cultures (organizations, cultural and socio-economic groups, countries).

Technology is created by individuals, groups/organizations, and nations to provide solutions within their contexts (needs, problems, aspirations, culture, and history). Technology transfer occurs when one or both cultures see this as a benefit. To successfully1 transfer technology to another context, the technology must be translated to fit the new context for mutual benefit between partners. Both the context that existed in the development of the technology, as well as the context of where that technology will be transferred to must be considered when translating it.

1 Success is defined as achieving the goals of the project, creating desired mutual benefits for the partners, and without creating cultural conflict.


The Three Phases of Project Development for Intercultural Technology Transfer

Project development has been successfully used as a mechanism for ITT (PD for ITT). PD for ITT is structured into three phases. The main activities for each phase are:

A) conducting needs and strengths assessments, developing project plan outlines (for students this would also include creating a learning plan), connecting with local and foreign partners; and making personal preparations for living in a new culture;

B) adapting to a new culture, acquiring and/or adapting technology that fits the intended context, refining the project plan, maintaining regular communication with partners, and preparing to return to your home culture or move on to the next project; and

C) finalizing the project plan through a collaborative process with stakeholders, implementing the project, readapting to your home culture or moving on to the next project.


The Two forms of Project Development for Intercultural Technology Transfer Training

Training people in PD for ITT can take two forms: 1) training personnel who wish to export their own technology to new cultures (PD for ITT Export); and 2) training personnel who desire to import relevant technology to their home culture (PD for ITT Import).

PD for ITT Export training provides expertise in: facilitating individuals and groups/organizations through the needs assessment process, creating partnerships, collaboration training, cultural sensitivity/orientation, preparing for culture shock, adapting technology to new contexts, project development and management for mutual benefit, training others in PD for ITT.

People who would benefit from this training: trainers, experts, development workers, change agents who want to help individuals, groups, and/or societies, entrepreneurs.

PD for ITT Import training provides individuals with training in project development and management, then specific training on needs assessment, searching for and using relevant technology from foreign culture(s), creating partnerships, collaboration training, cultural sensitivity/orientation, preparing for culture shock, and finally adapting the technology and using it to complete a project within their own context.

People who would benefit from this training: students, change agents within a society or organization, entrepreneurs.


Needs of Individuals and Small Organizations Involved in PD for ITT

Several needs have been identified that would enhance PD for ITT training and project development for individual and small organizational change agents. These needs include: sources of information, sources of support, and personal development.

Some suggested solutions to these needs are:

1) Sources of Information: a database of all (both successful and unsuccessful) online PD for ITT projects, PD for ITT training centres around the world or online, funding proposal expertise, fund raising expertise;

2) Sources of Support: a forum for new trainees, a forum of alumni, a pool of partners/mentors, a database of local community gatekeepers;

3) Personal Development: creating an effective mindset, eliminating subconscious resistance to success; identifying personal passions, inner genius development; increasing awareness of personal strengths and connections, tapping into Universal Mind.


Jan Anderson ©2008 The Travel Coach