The X-Culture Certified Global Virtual Team Coaching Program

• Completed a series of training modules on understanding and managing people in global virtual teams and international business principles and theories
• Served as a coach, mentor, and counsel to global virtual teams completing a complex international business consulting project
• Developed training materials and live training webinars for a global audience
• Investigated and facilitated the resolution of cross-cultural conflicts and misunderstandings
• Evaluated individual and team performance
• Provided regular constructive and developmental feedback to individuals and teams and helped them improve their work
• Helped members of the globally-dispersed teams coordinate their efforts
• Reviewed and analyzed a large number of business proposals and prepared executive analytic summaries for the top managers
• Actively participated in weekly experience exchange conferences with other coaches, shared personal observations, heard about the challenges experienced by other coaches, brainstormed the best solutions, and provided and received feedback and suggestions
• Invited to review business proposals and select winners of a large-scale consulting competition
• Addressed concerns and responded to questions from members of global virtual teams
• Conducted independent research on international business and global virtual teams and wrote an analytic paper and guide for managers, team members, and educators (optional Pet/Special project)
• Provided suggestions for training program design and management of large-scale consulting projects
• Completed all of this in a highly complex culturally diverse and technology-intensive environment, working alongside people from 20+ different countries

Phase 1: Theoretical Training Activities and Topics (4 weeks)

Week 1: X-Culture

Module 1 Exam Topics:

• Chapter 1. The X-Culture Project: Purpose, History, Method, Vision
• Chapter 2. The X-Culture Coaching Program: Purpose, History, Method, Vision

Week 2: Anatomy of GVTs

Module 2 Exam Topics:

• Chapter 3. Known GVT Problems and Best Practices
• Chapter 4. Managing GVTs
• Chapter 5. Free-Riding in GVTs
• Chapter 6. Principles of crowdsourcing and global virtual collaboration

Week 3: Managing and Coaching GVTs

Module 3 Exam Topics:

• Chapter 7. The Art of Effective Feedback
• Chapter 8. Team Counseling
• Chapter 9. Managing Conflict in Project Teams
• Chapter 10: Organizing and leading webinars and discussion groups

Week 4: Technologies and Knowledge for GVT-Based IB Consulting

Module 4 Exam Topics:

• Chapter 11. Online Collaboration Tools
• Chapter 12. Academic Referencing Styles
• Chapter 13. Plagiarism
• Chapter 14: The Basics of International Business

Applicants who successfully pass the Theoretical Phase will earn the opportunity to participate in Phase 2, the Practical Phase.

Phase 2: Practical Training Activities (remaining weeks)

• Coaching global virtual teams what are participating in the X-Culture project
• Completing a Portfolio that summarizes their experiences
• Resume and Interviewing workshop and feedback opportunity
• Organizing and leading a live instructional webinar
• Facilitating and participating in quality improvement discussion groups
• Participating in weekly experience-exchange online conferences with other Coaching Program trainees
• Select coaches prepare analytic executive summaries for corporate clients
• Select coaches serve as a judge of work of others, including being a member of the Award Committee that selects the X-Culture Competition winners
• Select coaches develop training materials
• Other professional development and online community activities through the program

“If you are thinking about applying for this program I highly recommend it. It will be challenging, but you will grow professionally and as a person. It is really useful for gaining real world experience.” – Andrea, Italy

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Eligibility

The number of Coaches in the X-Culture Coaching Program is typically limited typically to 50 per semester.

• Preference is given to the X-Culture Alumni who had the high scores on peer evaluations (4.0 and higher), whose teams wrote strong reports (4.5 and higher), as well as those who provided the most insightful and thoughtful comments in weekly surveys, and shared most original ideas and suggestions in the post-project survey.
• We are particularly looking for the most motivated people, those who are eager to learn while helping the new generation of X-Culture students to succeed.
• Coaches who successfully complete Phase 1 (pass the theoretical exam) are allowed to advance to Phase 2.
• Coaches that earn 80% on the four assessments and meet the required tasks will receive a certificate and a personalized letter of completion.
• Participants that complete the 4 modules successfully, plus the coaching assessment, will be able to coach global virtual university participants that request support.
• The acceptance fee is non-refundable, yet those that do not complete may still utilize the training materials for their professional development.

“The coaching program offers a unique opportunity to work with students and professionals in a global virtual team. I personally admired the supportive and engaging learning environment which encouraged growth, creativity, and innovation. Participating in this program is a challenging- but incredibly rewarding experience to anyone interested in learning and helping other students succeed.” -Ernest, Ghana

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Estimated Time Requirements

The program is very demanding and time-consuming.

Phase 1: Theory

• Review training materials: approximately 1-2 hours per module, 5-10 hours per week
• Weekly Theory exams: approximately 30-60 min per test

               Total per week: 5-10 hours

Phase 2: Practice

• Addressing team questions, concerns, providing help: approximately 2-3 hours per week
• Weekly assignments and providing feedback and suggestions: approximately 3-7 hours per week
• Team webinars and training material creation
• Additional research and optional program modules: as desired
• Portfolio creation: approximately 5-10 hours total

               Total per week: 5-20 hours

Total time investment over the 16 weeks: 60-120 hours.

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