Frequently Asked Questions


1. Where can I get a quick overview of GlobeSmart’s features and content?

2. How do I know the information in GlobeSmart is accurate and up-to-date?

3. Why is the country I want not in GlobeSmart?

4. Is the information provided in GlobeSmart company-specific?
5. How does the information in GlobeSmart avoid promoting stereotypes?
6. Is there any way that I can access GlobeSmart offline, particularly while I am traveling?
7. Can I share my experience doing business with other countries in GlobeSmart?
8. I believe there are errors in your content. How can I indicate these and be sure your data is reliable?
9. Is GlobeSmart supposed to replace intercultural training?
10. Is GlobeSmart any different from free content on the web?
11. Is GlobeSmart only for people who work globally or internationally?
12. How do I know the Self-Assessment Profile is accurate?
13. Is the Self-Assessment component of GlobeSmart a diagnostic tool that we should use to decide whether or not to send someone overseas?
14. How does the Self-Assessment Profile promote diversity rather than homogeneity?
15. Why does the GAP use these six dimensions?
16. What do each of the dimensions mean? Do you have examples from the workplace?
17. What am I sharing when I grant permission to view my profile?
18. Will the personal information I provide be used by GlobeSmart or my company?
19. Can my organization track GlobeSmart usage among our employees?
20. How can I help my virtual or global team gain the most value from GlobeSmart?
21. How do I invite my team to share their Self-Assessment Profiles with me?
22. How do I log into GlobeSmart?
23. I have forgotten my password. How can I access GlobeSmart?
24. Which internet browser should I use to access GlobeSmart?
25. Will GlobeSmart be accessible if I have pop-up blockers installed?
26. Do I need any special downloads to use GlobeSmart?
27. What do I do if I was invited to share my Self-Assessment Profile with someone, and my password expires? Can I still access GlobeSmart?
28. Who do I contact if I am having technical difficulties with GlobeSmart?

 

1. Where can I get a quick overview of GlobeSmart's features and content?
A virtual tour of GlobeSmart can be viewed at: http://aperianglobal.acrobat.com/gsoverview/
When you click on this link, you will be taken to a short overview of GlobeSmart. To learn about particular features, simply select from the menu on the left side of the screen.


2. How do I know the information in GlobeSmart is accurate and up-to-date?
The content is reviewed annually, and new features, countries or updates are added on an ongoing basis. Please see Research and Review Process for details.


3. Why is the country I want not in GlobeSmart?
The countries currently in GlobeSmart have been developed based on client demand. We add countries to GlobeSmart periodically, based on client requests and the allocation of internal resources to various development priorities. If you would like us to consider adding a new country, please contact the GlobeSmart Development team outlining your request: webtools@aperianglobal.com. While we cannot guarantee that the country you request will be added, we very much appreciate client input in our development plans, and we welcome your enquiry.


4. Is the information provided in GlobeSmart company-specific?
No. The content in GlobeSmart describes values and behaviors that are typically found among business people in specific countries. The content is developed and continually reviewed by individuals from the countries and cultures being described. Custom Content is an optional feature of GlobeSmart that allows for the addition of proprietary, organization-specific content to be added to GlobeSmart. Content can be related to any topic and can be accessible in multiple ways through GlobeSmart. It is easily scalable to the needs of your organization and can include text, graphics and audio clips.

 

View a demo of the custom content feature here.


5. How does the information in GlobeSmart avoid promoting stereotypes?
The information provided in GlobeSmart is intended to provide useful generalizations and examples rather than cultural absolutes. The GlobeSmart content takes into account that individual values, behaviors, and expectations will differ based on a variety of factors. Click here to learn more.

 

6. Is there any way that I can access GlobeSmart offline, particularly while I am traveling?
GlobeSmart is a web-based resource, available only online. However, you can create custom reports for countries of your choice, and save or print the PDF files to view offline. Please visit the My Briefcase section of GlobeSmart to learn more.


7. Can I share my experience doing business with other countries in GlobeSmart?
Yes. If you would like to share your insights and experience about working in or with a particular country, please click on the Add Your Experience button that appears at the bottom of each country content page. The GlobeSmart editorial team will review your comments for usefulness and accuracy. If approved, your comments will appear anonymously under “FieldNotes: Comments from other GlobeSmart users related to this topic”.


8. I believe there are errors in your content. How can I indicate these and be sure your data is reliable?
GlobeSmart content is the product of an extensive research, editing and review process conducted by our country experts around the globe. Content is checked carefully for accuracy and updated regularly. Nevertheless, if you feel we are in error on a particular topic, we would like very much to hear from you. Please contact the GlobeSmart Development team at webtools@aperianglobal.com and we will respond to you.


9. Is GlobeSmart supposed to replace intercultural training?
No. GlobeSmart is a reference and awareness-building tool, and an excellent adjunct to global business training. It is not meant to replace training. GlobeSmart offers easily-accessible on-line information for those who have already gone through a training program and for those who, for whatever reason, are not able to participate in a training program.


10. Is GlobeSmart any different from free content on the web?
Most of the free information on the internet pertains to country facts and statistics. Although useful, it is very different from the majority of GlobeSmart content, which focuses on specific business skills and business culture. The emphasis on skills for the workplace, as well as the breadth of the material and the consistent updates to the material make GlobeSmart a uniquely useful global business tool.


11. Is GlobeSmart only for people who work globally or internationally?
While GlobeSmart country content focuses on business skills which will help you be more effective in your interactions with colleagues or customers from other countries, many of these skills can also be applied to your work with diverse colleagues locally. In addition, the Self-Assessment Profile is a great way to learn more about your own style, whether you work globally or not. You can also invite others to share their profile, and learn something new about the person in the cube next to yours! You certainly don't need to travel to use GlobeSmart!


12. How do I know the Self-Assessment Profile is accurate?

The GlobeSmart Assessment Profile (GAP) reflects recent research conducted in the intercultural field. The tool is an adaptation of a highly reliable and valid research instrument developed by a leading cross-cultural researcher, Dr. David Matsumoto of San Francisco State University. The country scores were derived from the merged data of four leading cross-cultural researchers: Hofstede, Schwartz, McCrae and Inglehart.

 

The GAP country scores are empirically derived, statistical averages of all of the available country data on the six cultural dimensions as they currently exist in the research literature. The country scores have been thoroughly tested and show strong evidence of validity on all six cultural dimensions.


13. Is the Self-Assessment component of GlobeSmart a diagnostic tool that we should use to decide whether or not to send someone overseas?
No. GlobeSmart includes a Self-Assessment Profile component, however this is not meant to be used as a diagnostic tool to select candidates for assignments abroad. The GlobeSmart Assessment Profile is a tool for helping you increase your awareness of potential gaps between your personal style and the styles of your colleagues or customers in other countries. This raises the level of sensitivity to intercultural issues, and enables development of strategies for effectively bridging cultural gaps. (If you would like to learn more about the tools and services Aperian Global offers for international candidate assessment, please contact us at webtools@aperianglobal.com.)


14. How does the Self-Assessment Profile promote diversity rather than homogeneity?
The GlobeSmart Assessment Profile (GAP) helps global organizations identify and leverage the diversity represented in their employees as well as their suppliers, vendors and customers worldwide. The GAP places no particular value on where an individual user falls on each dimension's scale; various individual profiles can be functional within different business environments. However, GlobeSmart users often find it valuable to consider how their own profile is similar to or different from the profiles of their counterparts, as well as the average profiles of people from countries with which they need to do business.


15. Why does the GAP use these six dimensions?
The six dimensions used in the GlobeSmart Assessment Profile are among those deemed in the intercultural world to have the greatest impact on behavior in the business context. These dimensions have been used extensively in research and proved to be reliable indicators of behavioral trends. Substantial data is available on these dimensions, making it possible to compile profiles for many countries. As more GlobeSmart users complete their profiles, we continue to add to the body of research in the field. Please see descriptions of the dimensions below.


16. What do each of the dimensions mean? Do you have examples from the workplace?


 

Independent

  • Take individual initiative
  • Use individual decision-making styles (brainstorming)
  • Reward/recognize individuals

 

Interdependent

  • Focus on cooperation and group goals
  • Use group decision-making styles (consensus, meeting before the meeting)
  • Reward/recognize group

 

Example: You are tasked with making a recommendation for process improvements in a departmental system. Will you put forth your own ideas, perhaps touching base with one or two others? Or will you try to touch base with everyone in your group to make sure that all views are reflected in the recommendation?


Egalitarian

  • Believe everyone has equal opportunity/access
  • Self-directed
  • Value flexibility in roles
  • OK to challenge people in power

 

Status

  • Respect status and position and adjust behavior accordingly
  • Enforce/follow guidelines
  • Appropriate behavior for different roles

 

Example: You arrive for a meeting at a prospective customer. You are greeted by the president's assistant, and brought to his office. The number two person in the company starts the meeting, referring to his boss throughout on issues related to decisions, information shared, etc. Do you tend to talk to whomever you like, whomever you need to get the information you need without regard to title or status . . . Or are you likely to defer to status and rank, based on your belief that position and title has a purpose and needs to be respected?

 

Risk

  • Demonstrate quick results
  • Value flexibility and initiative
  • Value speed over thoroughness

 

Restraint

  • Minimize risk through thorough information gathering and correct processes
  • Spend time on background research
  • Establish proper processes and systems
  • Value thoroughness over speed

 

Example: You're in a presentation. A manager from corporate is asking you to make a decision regarding your department's ability to commit to a specific production goal by the end of the month. Do you tend to make an approximate guess at the number of units you believe your department will produce, figuring it's better to shoot for a high goal, than to be too conservative. Or, do you ask for more information, require time to research many different factors, want some assurance of the qualifications of the individual or group asking the questions, need to consult other members of the group, etc.?


 

Direct

  • Get to the point quickly and say exactly what is meant
  • Focus on what is said; little context is required
  • Openly confront difficulties
  • Constructive feedback

 

Indirect

  • Take care with how something is said to maintain relationships
  • Meaning can be implied from tone and context
  • Avoid discussing difficulties openly
  • Personal dignity/face issues

 

Example: There have been some complaints about your subordinate's work. Do you talk to the person immediately, and not worry too much about where you are talking and who might be listening? Or are you more apt to go for a drink or lunch with the person, preferring a non-threatening, relaxed setting to feel out how things are going in general?

 

Task

  • Move quickly to business; relationships develop in the process of accomplishing the task
  • Relationships with colleagues and customers develop quickly
  • Focus on your achievements and what you do

 

Relationship

  • Relationship-building comes first; tasks are accomplished after rapport is developed
  • Relationships with colleagues and customers develop slowly over time
  • Focus on your network and who you are

 

Example: You are meeting a prospective client for the first time over lunch in a restaurant. Do you bring handouts with you and begin discussing business as soon as introductions are over? Or do you spend a leisurely amount of time (possibly the duration of the entire meal) finding out about the other person's background and interests and waiting to talk business til another time?

 

Short-Term

  • Demonstrate immediate results
  • Efficiency and speed important in decision-making process
  • Focus on short-term benefits

 

Long-Term

  • Focus on long-term goals even at the risk of short-term losses
  • Emphasize big picture; long term results
  • Thoroughness, consensus-building and discussion of possible outcomes important
  • Focus on long-term relationships

 

Example: You have a tight deadline to produce training manuals for new software. If you take the time to define a clear process and style, you know that this work will save time in the long run in producing other manuals; however, you may not be able to make the deadline. On the other hand, you could push to meet the deadline, but then you may have to re-do some of the work for the next manual.


17. What am I sharing when I grant permission to view my profile?
If you accept the invitation to share my GlobeSmart Assessment Profile, your colleagues will see your profile graph. They will not have access to your answers to the survey questions.

Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.


18. Will the personal information I provide be used by GlobeSmart or my company?
Your personal information will be kept confidential in the GlobeSmart program and will not be shared with anyone at your organization. The organization will receive reports with aggregated usage information, but individual users will remain anonymous. GlobeSmart is certified with the TrustE and EU Safe Harbor seals.

Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.


19. Can my organization track GlobeSmart usage among our employees?
We provide regular usage reports to all client organizations, showing (a) number of "hits" or page views (b) time spent on the site, (c) most visited countries, and (d) most visited topics. We can also track usage of GlobeSmart by three custom demographic variables, if your organization has chosen to include these - e.g., Business Unit, Geographic Region, Job Title, etc. You can determine your organization's demographic variables by going to My Profile. Note: These reports are all aggregate reports - individual users remain anonymous.


In addition, we can provide aggregated reports of GlobeSmart Evaluations provided by users voluntarily through the Feedback link.

20. How can I help my virtual or global team gain the most value from GlobeSmart?
Your organization's GlobeSmart license typically includes services from Aperian Global to help teams find and maximize the GlobeSmart content and features most applicable to their work. You might want to start by inviting your team to take the Self-Assessment profile, and have a discussion about the different styles within your team. Please contact ClientRelations@AperianGlobal.com for more information and assistance.


21. How do I invite my team to share their Self-Assessment Profiles with me?

  • First, you will need to complete your own GlobeSmart Assessment Profile (GAP):
  • Access the GAP via GlobeSmart at your internal GlobeSmart link
  • Click on the Self-Assessment Profile tab
  • Complete the survey and click "Submit All"
  • View your resulting profile Chart
  • Next, follow these steps to invite a team to share their profiles with you:
  • Select "Invite Your Colleagues" from the What would you like to do? drop menu. A new page will load.
  • In the upper right of the page, enter your name as you would like it to appear on the invitations
  • Scroll down and click on the Invite link next to "Teams"
  • Enter a name for the team that will make sense to the members you invite
  • Click "Save"
  • When prompted, enter team members' email addresses. You can now also select the language of the invitation message. Click Submit to send the emails.
  • After your team members complete the survey, your team name will appear in the "Compare Your Profile" page, which you can reach using the What would you like to do? drop menu.
  • When you click on your team name, the names of your team members will appear to the right of the chart and you will be able to view all team member profiles on one screen. (If you have more than 10 team members, your team will appear in different "pages.")

 

Technical Questions
22. How do I log into GlobeSmart?
Access GlobeSmart by going to www.globesmart.com . You will be taken to the GlobeSmart registration page. Look for the words "New User?" and click the "Register" button. Enter your first name, last name, work e-mail address and a password of your choice when prompted. You may also be asked to answer two or three demographic questions.


An e-mail with a link to your company GlobeSmart home page will be sent to your work e-mail address. Click on this link and you will be taken to GlobeSmart.

Note: If your company has single sign-on, please access GlobeSmart directly from your company intranet link.


23. I have forgotten my password. How can I access GlobeSmart?
Click on the “Forgot Your Password?” link below the password field on the login page. Enter the e-mail address that you used to register for GlobeSmart your password will be e-mailed to you.


24. Which internet browser should I use to access GlobeSmart?
While GlobeSmart works well with most major browsers, Internet Explorer ensures the most effective use of GlobeSmart.


25. Will GlobeSmart be accessible if I have pop-up blockers installed?
If you have a pop-up blocker installed on your computer, you may need to disable it to access the following features: Self-Assessment Profile advice, Add Your Experience, Notes About Stereotypes and Privacy Policy.

 

26. Do I need any special downloads to use GlobeSmart?

You will need Flash 8 to view certain areas of GlobeSmart content, particularly the Self-Assessment.

 

27. What do I do if I was invited to share my Self-Assessment Profile with someone, and my password expires? Can I still access GlobeSmart?
If your company has a full GlobeSmart license, you can set up an account by registering for access to GlobeSmart as a "New User."  The registration link can be found on the portal page at www.globesmart.com.  You will need to ask that your colleagues re-invite you to compare profiles once you have activated your account.


28. Who do I contact if I am having technical difficulties with GlobeSmart?
Please contact GlobeSmart tech support at webtools@aperianglobal.com or 1-415-321-7984. Please also visit our Help page for more information. If you have received an error message, please send us a screen shot of the message by using the "PrntScrn" key on your keyboard. Then copy and paste the message into a Word document and attach the document to your e-mail.

Note: If you have a "pop-up blocker" installed on your computer, you may need to disable it to access the following features: Self-Assessment Profile advice, Add Your Experience, Site Credits, Privacy Policy, Notes About Stereotypes, and Legal Notices.