Designing an intercultural training program by using the ADDIE model: A case study of U.S. and local Thai staff in a large international organization in Thailand

Abstract

Despite the growing need for intercultural competence in global workplaces, research on how to develop individuals’ intercultural competence through practical training is still limited. This case study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an intercultural communication training program for Thai and U.S. employees, guided by Deardorff’s Process Model of Intercultural Competence. The course was developed using the ADDIE instructional design model and grounded in experiential learning and adult learning principles to promote active participation, reflection, and application of intercultural skills. The training focused on enhancing participants’ affective, knowledge-based, skill-based, and behavioral competencies essential for effective and appropriate intercultural communication in the workplace. Activities included separate and joint sessions, interactive tasks, and peer feedback, allowing participants to engage in real intercultural interactions and practice adaptive communication strategies. A mixed-methods evaluation approach was employed. Pre- and post-training surveys were developed based on the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS), with slight modifications, to measure changes in targeted competencies. Observations and peer evaluations provided additional insights into participants’ communication behaviors. Findings showed improvements in all measured competencies when comparing pre-training and delayed post-training results, indicating the effectiveness of the training in enhancing intercultural communication competencies. The study offers practical insights for designing intercultural training programs that foster meaningful engagement and skill development, emphasizing the value of experiential learning and peer interaction in enhancing intercultural competence.