Preparatory Phase: The step to 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 Nice (French Riviera), we offer you two types of assistance:

• Cross-cultural training for managers 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 managers and their families

Objectives of our assistance

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

• To develop realistic expectations concerning life and work in Nice (French Riviera)
• To understand the behaviour 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 acclimatisation 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 programme will be adapted to the specific needs and interests of the participants. Normally each training course is carried out individually for one expatriate and his/her family members coming to Nice (French Riviera).

Depending on the experiences and expectations of the client, the cross-cultural training lasts one to three days. It is carried out here in Nice (French Riviera) or on the client's premises. The training programme consists of different modules which can be individually chosen and combined.

Examples of training modules of a cross-cultural training for Nice (French Riviera):

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

The training is highy 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.

Pre-move orientation tour "Look & See": Practical information and pre-selection of housing areas

Objectives of our assistance

To know the future city or region better and to make a first selection of housing areas, we offer you a premove 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 concering the furture move to Nice (French Riviera)

Contents and methodology of our approach

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

Example of a premove orientation tour "Look & See":

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