Assessment Tools: Cultural Values and Work Styles - Culture in the Workplace (CWq), Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory (ICSI) and DISC

The CWq, ICSI and DISC are quick and convenient on-line instruments best used to prepare individuals for:

• International assignments
• Membership in intercultural teams
• International support functions (especially in conjunction with cultural training)

They are excellent for those who have self-selected into the pool of candidates and have now been offered and have accepted an assignment. The CW and ICSI are also recommended for team or work group intercultural awareness; to understand the nature of specific cultural challenges. They are designed to identify a user's cultural values and the behaviors associated with those values (as well as, in some cases, personal work style) and to provide a comparison with the values/behaviors of relevant other cultures. The instruments do not evaluate readiness or adaptive skills.  They are best used with a facilitated debrief. They also link well with cultural training but are not a substitute for it.