DICE Results (English)

DICE II What do personnel development managers in German companies think and do about the quality of language and intercultural training?

How do Human Resources Development (HRD) managers in German companies ensure that their staff can communicate effectively in international situations? This is the focus of the second, annual SKYLIGHT survey, DICE II (Developing international Competence Effectively) carried out by Dr Iris Wangermann and Nicola Schneider, and supported by Business Spotlight as a media partner.

The rapid globalization of the business world means that, regardless of their position in a company or of their industrial sector, an increasing number of staff is obliged to communicate in a foreign language. Many more employees now work together with colleagues from different cultures, work abroad on a temporary, project-by-project basis, or take on new tasks as their companies continuously reposition themselves and their operations. As a result, the quality of in-company language training has become increasingly important.

SKYLIGHT carried out an online survey of 104 HRD managers across Germany from June to August 2008. To gain a more in-depth perspective of current attitudes and standards, the survey was complemented by a series of interviews with respondents from a variety of sectors. The survey itself was subdivided into three areas: organisation; quality assurance; and intercultural competence.