Did the Pedestrian Die? Insights from the Greatest Culture Guru [Paperback]

"...lively and informative read...an excellent introduction to the issues of transcultural management..." (People Management, 10 July 2003)

"...essential reading for those concerned with cultural issues..." (Long Range Planning, Vol 37, 2004)

Did the Pedestrian Die? is an accumulation of a decade of research into cultural diversity across the globe with a wide range of client organizations. Trompenaars and his research team have identified the issues that really make a difference at the level of the individual and the organization as a whole. In addition to his well–established cross–cultural database of 70,000 managers from across the world, Trompenaars has more recently interviewed thousands of business leaders and managers to understand the challenges and concerns they face, the tensions between competing priorities, demands and values.

Often humorous, always inspiring, Did the Pedestrian Die? collects the insights of the world′s most sought–after culture guru and shows how they can be put to immediate effect in any organization.

The Dilemma
You are a passenger in a car driven by a close friend. He hits a pedestrian. You know he was going at least 35 miles per hour in an area of the city where the maximum speed allowed is 20 miles per hour. There are no witnesses. His lawyer says that if you are prepared to testify under oath that he was only driving at 20 miles per hour it may save him from serious consequences.

What right has your friend to expect you to protect him?
a: My friend has a DEFINITE right to expect me to testify to the lower figure.
b: He has SOME right to expect me to testify to the lower figure.
c: He has NO right to expect me to testify to the lower figure.

Fons Trompenaars has put this dilemma to some 70,000 managers in over 65 countries. The responses vary tremendously and will often change when Fons then reveals a further important factor – that the pedestrian is indeed very dead! But there is one thread that remains common no matter where and to whom Fons is posing this dilemma: regardless of their culture, people would like to help their friends as well as respect the truth and support laws that protect pedestrians. Culture is the way one solves dilemmas. That is, the way one resolves dilemmas is culturally determined.

Did the Pedestrian Die? is an accumulation of a decade of research into cultural diversity across the globe with a wide range of client organizations. Trompenaars and his research team have identified the issues that really make a difference at the level of the individual and the organization as whole. In addition to his well–established cross–cultural database of 70,000 managers from across the world, more recently Trompenaars has interviewed thousands of business leaders and managers to understand the challenges and concerns they face, the tensions between competing priorities, demands and values.

Often humorous, always inspiring, Did the Pedestrian Die? collects the insights of the world’s most sought–after culture guru and shows how they can be put to immediate effect in any organization.

Most decisions that managers face involve objectives that are in apparent conflict; they constitute the horns of a dilemma. By the use of numerous examples Trompenaars shows how managers can escape these horns. The examples are invaluable for every manager. RUSSEL L. ACKOFF, author of Creating the Corporate Future

Dilemma identification is an elegant method for appreciating andtranscending the complexity that paralyzes strategic thinking, asTrompenaars′ Did the Pedestrian Die? elegantly shows. PETER SENGE, author of The Fifth Discipline

PRAISE FOR 21 LEADERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:

" this is an important book" BUSINESS LIFE

PRAISE FOR BUILDING CROSS CULTURAL COMPETENCE:

"...You will gain fascinating insights into literature, philosophy, economics, ancient and modern history and obscure Japanese films. It is not like a management book at all. I recommend it." DAILY TELEGRAPH

"There are lots of fascinating stories about how we differ, and we are encouraged to respect all forms of diversity. The book will give people working internationally a deeper level of understanding of the issues, pitfalls and potential ways to reconcile cultural differences at work." PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Fons Trompenaars is founder and Managing Director of Trompenaars Hampden–Turner (THT), an innovative centre of excellence for intercultural management issues for both globalization and managing diversity. He is the author and co–author of several books, including the worldwide bestseller, Riding the Waves of Culture and 21 Leaders for the 21st Century.

Visit www.thtconsulting.com for more information on Fons and THT.