The German newsletter contains also a second part where specific topics of intercultural competence are described. These parts contain extracts of my ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’ which will be published in 2001 in German; during 2004 it will also be published in English (pre-orders and inquiries here); after which the english newsletter will include this second part, too.

The foundation of the ‚CICB Center of Intercultural Competence’ was quite an extended, continuous process. For many years, I have been interested in the different ways of thinking and communication; an interest which grew during my former work and activities in international enterprises, during stays abroad and trips in over 65 countries so far.

I was fascinated not only by the different cultures, their history and their ways of expressing, but also about the many different forms and meanings of the languages. My mother tongue being German, speaking fluently French and English, pretty well Spanish and also a bit Italian and Russian, I found out that although it is possible to translate words and sentences, their meaning or connotation can be very different. The versatility of the world – mankind, countries, languages, cultures – is fascinating and at the same time challenging, but certainly an enrichment.

Although my professional activities, last as deputy general manager at the Swissair Training Center in Zurich, were very interesting, I was looking for a new challenge – on the one hand to realize my further interests and hobbies, on the other hand to approach my goal of direct responsibility and self-realization.

By the end of 1998 I wrote for my studies of economics my diploma-thesis ‚Measuring Intercultural Competence. An abstract of methods in business and science’. I received very positive feedback on this work, both about the topic of intercultural competence and the so far unique comparison between the different ratings and assessment methods.

In October 1999 I created my private homepage (www.baumer.net) to gain more experience within the internet and its publication methods, but also to offer friends and acquaintances a better view into my interests and activities.

Because of my growing interest in human relations, in the countries and cultures of this world, and also because of the positive echo on my diploma-work, I decided in early 2000 to take the risk of founding the CICB: I extended and actualized my diploma-work and wrote a marketing- and businessplan for the new company. Many organisational and administrative activities became necessary: legal, economic and tax advise, choosing a graphic artist (to develop a corporate design, the logo, papers, cards, power-point-presentations a.s.o.), a web-designer (to design the internet-pages), taking decision about the legal form of the company, making many contacts with companies and universities working in intercultural competence and related topics, and preparing visits and talks with many people to learn about their opinions and experiences.

I received many ideas and constructive feedback from friends, family members, colleagues, acquaintances, business-partners and co-workers concerning my ideas, drafts and presentations as well as by critically reading the pre-print of the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’ and helping with or reviewing concerned translations – many thanks to all of them!

In almost all parts the selection of matching partners was quite challenging, as both high professional and personal abilities as well as the „common interpersonal chemistry” are very important.

In my strategy and timetable I was mainly able to keep the sequence, but I had to correct the timeframe several times, as many elements were either foreign-influenced or just more time-consuming – or even both. But every contact, every part of my work for CICB was even more interesting and manifold as I thought!

The going-public took place in three steps: the foundation of the company (registration in the commercial register) on 30 May 2000, then the online-availability of the CICB-homepage on 21 September 2000, and several articles and media-work after finishing all preparative work and the publication of the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’ in late 2000.

At the moment I am performing corrections and reviews of the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’, of the presentations and courses and prepare talks, visits and other media-related topics, about which I will write in the next newsletter in two months.

Nr. 2, January 2001

During the past months the main goal was finishing the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence‘ in it’s original German version, improving the concepts for the main courses (half-day and full-day seminar), preparing lectures, articles and media-prestations and visiting professionals in Switzerland and abroad.

By the end of december 2000 the last corrections in the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’ are completed; at the moment it is in circulation at the publishers house and its publication is planned for mid 2001.

I received a very good feedback on the course-parts I have presented so far - like with many tasks, the time-factor plays an important role to build a flawless product! Depending on negotiations with interested clients I expect to hold the first main courses during mid 2001 in the German-speaking part of Switzerland; the English courses and lectures are planned for 2002/03 as well as the English edition of the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’.

Nr. 3, June 2001

Starting one’s own company is an extremely interesting process: after having worked out the professional basis, now the main focus is on activities in marketing and public relations, i. e. to get the company known, to build and maintain networks as well as to work on all aspects of communication skills and tools.

A milestone was certainly the contract with Orell Füssli Publishers (one of the main publishers in Switzerland) concerning the publication of the ‚Handbook Intercultural Competence’ which got actualized and finalized by the end of June, in cooperation with the publisher. Here also, the time-frame had to be extended: it takes at least half a year (usually up to one year) until the book is available to readers, which means that it will finally be published by around the end of this year. If the sales develop as expected, the English translation is planned for 2003.

Visiting many people in companies, organisations and on a private basis, contacts by phone, letter and e-mail were a main task during the past months as well as a few courses and consulting activities so far. The aim is currently to get CICB well known within international companies and organisations situated in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and to build a network on an international basis, which should prepare the market in the English-speaking world.

Nr. 4, December 2001

„The baby that starts to walk”: with patience, a good portion of steadiness but also openness for changes, the opportunities for reaching goals are best. After founding the CICB it took about one year until the network, acknowledgement, market-presence and trustworthiness were built up.

The key activities during the past months were a full-day-seminar for ABB-university (participants: managers of different training centers within the ABB-holding); contracts with the university ETH Zürich (department for economical sciences, ETH-Zentrum für Unternehmenswissenschaften BWI) for two seminars on 16 May and 14 November 2002 (description and enrolment here); an agreement for teaching at the University for Economics Lucerne (at the moment for two seminars in early 2002; further courses and teaching activities are planned); an agreement for lectures at the ‚Swiss Conference for Managers in Marketing and Sales’ in Interlaken (March 2002; description and enrolment here). Further teaching activities (e. g. University for Economics and Administration Zurich) as well as lectures and publications are in progress resp. planned.

A strategic step was my joining the management of A+O Career Group. This enterprise is situated at nine central locations in Switzerland and offers high-level services in assessment, outplacement, international assignment and coaching. Management and consultants (currently 20 experts in different branches) work mainly, like me, on a mandate basis which ensures independency, practice-orientation and professionality. A long-term cooperation is planned between CICB and A+O Career Group with both enterprises remaining independent.

Also with ILA Institut für Laufbahn und Arbeit (institute for career and work) a cooperation grew, mainly within the topics of psychodiagnostics and human resources.

The final publishing date for volume one of the Handbook Intercultural Competence (German edition) is finally set for 15 february 2002. Various reasons (marketing, publishing planning, update possibilities) led towards the decision to publish it in two volumes (each around 300 pages). The publication of the second volume, as well as the translation into english, is planned for early 2003 (depending on sales-figures and planning).

Nr. 5, February 2002

The cooperation with perSens („the way to uniqueness”) led towards a very interesting project: the intensive seminar Uniqueness as Competitive Advantage in Intercultural Surroundings. (Further information and enrolment here). This comprehensive course offers - during 13 days (excl. project works) within 4 months - a detailed introduction and overview into the topics of interculturality and uniqueness, including all important theory as well as practical experience, with the aim to benefit from success-potential of both entrepreneurial as well as personal uniqueness in the global view. The shift to practical experience also takes place during a stay in Singapore. Guest-lecturer in the third module is Prof. Dr. Gerald Delilkhan, co-founder of the Swiss Management Forum St. Gallen. I share many common interests with him (we have known each other since my studies in economics 1994), and I am very happy about this result of our common goals and activities.

There is a regular exchange of interests and experiences with Cultural Diversity. A cooperation regarding several activities is planned, including the preparation and coaching of international assignments. This topic is also part of a cooperation with ASN Services for Expatriates.

Current topics are, as mentioned in the last newsletter, the publication of Handbuch Interkulturelle Kompetenz (Handbook Intercultural Competence - German edition, volume one, available in every book-store; online-orders here), the seminars (16 Mai and 14 November 2002) at the ETH Zurich (in German; informationen and enrolment here) as well as the the ‚Swiss Conference for Managers in Marketing and Sales’ in Interlaken (20 to 22 march 2002; description and enrolment here).

The regular contribution resp. participation at meetings, conventions, seminars and communities of interest ensures an up-to-date overview as well as an inspiring cooperation with countless individuals, organisations and enterprises.

Nr. 6, October 2002

A couple of months have passed since the last newsletter, mainly because the update for the webdesign-tool of this homepage (NetObjects Fusion) was delivered later than expected. Also various corrections and improvements have been implemented on this homepage, and new computers have been installed at CICB as well as partially at providers and supporting organisations.

The past months were intense and it is a great pleasure to see that CICB is on the right track! Partnership and activities with A+O Career Group are very successful as well as assessments for a management vacancy at Pro Senectute. The seminars held at the University for Economics Lucerne lead to a teaching assignment for Thomas Baumer (Chairman of CICB), from summer 2003.

The first course Uniqueness as Competitive Advantage in the Intercultural Surroundings and the publicly advertised course at the ETH Zurich had to be postponed - the reasons can be found in the presently challenging economical situation in general as well as in further needs for advertisement.

CICB is able to extend its services, mainly thanks to the successful cooperation with partner-organisations, especially with Dr. Jörg Sorg (perSens).

The Handbook Intercultural Competence has been sold more than 1000 times so far, and the reviews are extremely positive.

Activities in November are (in German) lectures to the topics „Expatriates and Preparing for Foreign Cultures” (on 12 November, organized by ASN Services for Expatriates) and „Market Eastern Europe: Economical and Cultural Characteristics” at the „Swiss Export Management Forum 2002” (7 and 21 November, organized by the Association Swiss Export; information and enrolment here). CICB will also be present in the yearbook Opportunities for the Future 2003, which is distributed to all university graduates in Switzerland.

Nr. 7, March 2003

A big thank you to ivision (graphik artist, photographer, digital design) as well as oneweb (webhosting and -design, IT) for the excellent professional and personal cooperation.

At the moment, main activities of CICB are seminars at SIG Combibloc International Ltd. (Neuhausen) and the creation of a training concept for „A+O Academic Talents” (part of A+O Career Group) which includes assessments as well as translation and preparative work for several course modules in English and French language.

From April 3 to 5 participation at the yearly convention of the German Network of Economic Ethics DNWE Deutsches Netzwerk Wirtschaftsethik and co-leading the workshop „Cultural Peaceableness: Sustainability as Function of Values” (information and enrolment here) will take place. Contacts and information exchange with Nestlé (corporate communications and management recruitment) as well as with Mrs. Nelly Wenger (general director Expo 02).

CICB became a member of the worldwide acting SIETAR Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research and participates at the SIETAR-Europe congress from May 21 to 24 at Budapest (Hungary).

Since September 2001, Thomas Baumer has been performing assessments (single and group-assessments, assessment-centers, development-centers, analysis and expertises), coachings and outplacement-consultancy within the CICB partner-organisation A+O Career Group (in German, English, French and Spanish language) for the following companies: Alstom, ATAG Asset Management, Atos Origin, Aventis, Axa Winterthur, Axima, Baloise Bank, Baxter Healthcare Ltd., Bell Ltd., Berna Consult, Bosch Ltd., C&A, Compuware, DPD, Derendinger Holding, Deutsche Bank, Ernst&Young, ETH, EWB, Fritz Haug Ltd., General Electrics (GE Money), Globus, Hekatron, Helsana, Hospital Basel, IBM, ITW Decorating, Jean Frey Ltd., John Deere, Kardex Ltd., Leica, Mepha Pharma Ltd., Morgan Stanley, National Versicherung, NOK, Nokia, Otto Fischer Ltd., PAX Insurances, Perot Systems, Pfister, Philips, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Radio DRS, Reuters, Roche Diagnostics, Sandvik, Sarasin, Scania, Schindler Ltd., Schweizer Fernsehen, Siegfried Holding, Sika Ltd., SIS Group, Sony Ericsson, Sunrise, Swiss Air Force, Swiss Life, Swiss Railways, Swisscom Fixnet, Swisscom Mobile, TFL, Town of Basel, UBS, Unisys, University Basel, Winterthur Insurances, Zimmer Orthopedics, Zschokke.

Nr. 8, July 2003

A welcome to Dr. Jörg Sorg in the management-team of CICB - his duties are mainly within the topics of seminars and marketing; many of our courses are prepared and held together with him. Another welcome to Tobias Schnyder: as sales-manager he coordinates and executes most of our sales issues.

During the past months, several Assessment- and Development-Center have taken place in cooperation with the Institute A+O (Institute for Work- and Organisational Psychology) which is part of the A+O Career Group; some of them also with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a partner-company of A+O Career Group.

An pending issue is a teaching assignment at the university of applied sciences in Offenburg (Germany) for the course „Cross Cultural Conflict Management” (30 lessons) in the two-year full time masters degree program „Communication and Media Engineering” taking place in English.

Furthermore, several lectures took place at institutes and companies with the perspective towards closer relationships, and the excellent cooperation with A+O Career Group is continuing, especially through assessments (analysis of abilities and potential), outplacements and coaching.

Nr. 9, November 2003

Welcome to three further professionals joining the CICB-Team as company-partners resp. senior consultants: Dr. Marion Schubinski is a PhD in psychology (specialisation on working and organisational psychology) and director of the Institute for Assessment & Development Dr. Schubinski in Zurich. She is specialist in planning, performing and validating complex selection, assessment and development processes. The core competences of Marlys Agbloe are coaching, E-Learning, dual career couples und assessment. She is a lawyer, founder of Agbloe Consulting in Zurich and she has experience as human resource manager during many years in several international companies. Mónica Reppas-Schmid was born in bolivia; she is founder of the Swiss company Living Cultures; she is a teacher and holder of the masters degree in Intercultural Relations at Lesley University (USA). Her main professional tasks are preparing and coaching of families during stays abroad as well as training of teachers at international schools.

A remarkable expansion of contacts and project-related cooperation at many levels became possible through the membership of Thomas Baumer (founder of CICB) in the following organisations and think tanks: Ultranet Society (affiliated with Megafoundation); Olympiq, Helliq, Civiq and PARS Societies (affiliated with WIN organisation); Prometheus Society, ISI-Society, Triple Nine Society, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry, Cerebrals Society, Poetic Genius Society, Mensa and Vinci Society. The main goal is to exchange experiences and to create ideas on an international, interdisciplinary and highly intellectual level, and to transform this complexity into simple, effective and motivating solutions.

The remaining updates for the second volume of the Handbook Intercultural Competence (german edition) are completed; the publishing date was set by the publishing house onto 15 march 2004.

The references in Newsletter 7 are constantly updated. A main actual task is the cooperation with the Swiss bank UBS in creating a concept for intercultural assessments and training.

The actual newsletter ends with a poem from Thomas Baumer:

Spring

It comes quietly,
with a warm wind
and a wonderful scent.

Life starts growing,
in the nature
and the heart of all beings.

Dreams rise again,
like an unfolding rose
and spreading wings.

Hope is developing,
based on experiences
and curiosity
and respect.

Nr. 10, April 2004

The reviews in newspapers and journals concerning the two volumes of the Handbook Intercultural Competence are extremely positive (see newsletter 10 in the german part of this website). It is expected that this work will become recognized as a standard. Actually there are negotiations ongoing concerning its translation into the english and french language.

Early April an Interview with Thomas Baumer (Founder and Chairman of CICB) was published in several Swiss newspapers and journals in german language (e. g. Berner Zeitung, Der Bund, Anzeiger Luzern, St. Galler Tagblatt, Solothurner Tagblatt, Thuner Tagblatt, Berner Oberländer, Schweizer Baublatt).

A special course Leadership and stamina under extreme conditions in intercultural surroundings has been created in close cooperation with Dominik Neidhart who is a top athlete and member of the Alinghi sailing-team (winner America’s Cup 2003). In the year 2000 he won, as first Swiss citizen, the Louis-Vuitton-Cup. In the Alinghi crew he worked as „Grinder”, one of the most strenuous jobs on board which requires tremenduous power, endurance and mental stability. This course is held in two parts: the first day (basics) offers a close view into the questions how impossible missions can be turned into feasible goals and how people with ultimately different background can be motivated and guided even under most demanding circumstances. The second part (2-4 days) allows the reinforcement and to transform the gained knowledge into an individual practical experience with direct relation to challenges in the individual professional life of all participants. Upon request, this may be combined with an extensive assessment- resp. development center.

Nr. 11, August 2004

The organisation Swissinfo performed an extensive interview with Thomas Baumer and compiled a comprehensive description of the ‚CICB Center of Intercultural Competence’ in the following languages: english, german, french and italian. Parts of this interview have been broadcasted by Swiss Radio International.

A short interview has been broadcasted by Hessischer Rundfunk (in germany).

Nr. 12, May 2005

During the past months many assessment- and development-centers, coachings and courses have been performed. In cooperation with our partner-company Living Cultures a seminar has been created which allows companies and organizations to prepare and to assist in a most practical and coordinated way their employees from abroad (see Courses) as well as their spouses (Intercultural Competence Spouses).

An essay in the subject Intercultural Aspects of Colour Perception („living means colour - colour means interpretation”) from Thomas Baumer and Dr. Uwe Buchter (founder of epresence, a partner-company of CICB) has been published in german language in the journal Image.

CICB participates at the annual congress of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research (SIETAR) from 21 to 25 september in Nice (France).

Sales as well as reviews of the handbook intercultural competence (german edition) are very good. The negotiations for translation and publication in the english language are proceeding.

Nr. 13, October 2005

An important result of the international contacts and cooperation is the new course Values in intercultural communication - a philosophical workshop. The workshops in ethics and socratic dialogue develop critical thinking through rigorous inquiry and consensus which is essential for decision makers when building visions and turning them into reality. This course is actually held in english or french language, in cooperation with philosopher Dr. Gale Prawda. She is the founder of the Café Philo in Paris and London, managed the american university bookstore in Paris during many years, is member of numerous philosophical associations in France, England and the USA, and she has a teaching assignment at the „Rouen School of Management”. She is well known through her works and leading discussions in critical thinking, credibility and business ethics.

The september issue of the journal HR Today (The Swiss Human Resource Management-Journal) contains an article from Thomas Baumer (in german language): Von unreinen linken Händen und verneinendem Nicken.

Nr. 14, July 2006

The activities during the past months were intense, with many assessments and seminars, e. g. a special course Leadership and stamina under extreme conditions in intercultural surroundings has been performed for the Mann+Hummel Group in Stuttgart-Ludwigsburg (Germany).

CICB is working with several highly qualified psychologists and professionals with experience at the level of top management and supervisory board, especially for the second part (assessment) of the special course Leadership and stamina under extreme conditions in intercultural surroundings, to enhance the options and flexibility even more to customers needs and requirements.

The company partnership with A+O Career Group continues being utmost fruitful, particularly the mandates for Thomas Baumer in coachings, outplacements and assessments.

As well further activities and contacts proceed successful, are therefore satisfying and show sustainable prospects.

Nr. 15, June 2007

A milestone during the past months was the participation at the SIETAR congress (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) from 25 to 29 april 2007 in Sofia (Bulgaria). In total over 100 workshops, lectures, presentations, performances, movies, and 340 participants from numerous countries and all departments of intercultural competence enabled an intense and broad exchange of experiences as well as the opportunity to soldify existing contacts, to make new ones and to work on many international projects.

Knowing social manners and etiquette as well as using them correctly is essential, often crucial in relationships with peple from other countries and cultures. In cooperation with the well known specialist Carola Freifrau von Gleichenstein, CICB offers country-focused courses and individual coachings, where either a general introduction into these topics for the everyday life can be gained, or a specific and comprehensive preparation for negotiations with business partners or stays abroad. (Detailed description here).

The collaboration with SITE Foundation works on enhancing mutual understanding and comprehension not only between cultures in general, but especially between the systems education and the ones of industry and economics.

Beside of assessing and developing intercultural competence, it is important to recognize and shape up further abilities and potentials within human resources. Best synergies emerge when the needs are well defined (e. g. within an organization or company), and the abilities and interests (of the individual) are known and used. CICB founded the project From Potential to Ability and Motivation and works on interdisciplinary levels together with professionals from sciences as well as industry, in the domains psychology, sociology, medicine, psychiatry and economy, with the aim to analyze human potentials extensively, to develop them and to use them in a focus -oriented way, covering the needs of the environment or working place. This process can be performed either individually or in groups, and on demand of individuals or organizations. During this process also social and intercultural skills are further developed which improves both their communication and utilization, thus it facilitates a wide optimization and synergy of needs, abilities and motivation.

Realizing visions - positive and negative extremes. This is the title of two half day courses with the following subjects: work-life balance, emotional stability, realizing dreams. In extreme manners, how this is possible - in the very positive way - shows the professional skydiver Ueli Gegenschatz. And how this is possible - in the very negative way - shows the profiler and criminal psychologist Dr. Thomas Müller.

Nr. 16, June 2008

The successful activities lead to a further loication of CICB Center of Intercultural Competence: since end of June 2008 its headquarters are located in Fribourg, at the border between the german-speaking and the french-speaking part of Switzerland. Thus the contacts within the nearby capital of Berne as well as the international city of Geneva are closer. Furthermore, an office was opened in the city center of Zurich, the economic hub of Switzerland - not far from the former headquarters which were located in Zürich-Kloten (see contact).

An important event is the participation of CICB at the world congress of Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR), where CICB is a member since its foundation. The congress will be held from 22 to 26 October in Granada (Spain). Almost all of the worldwide leading professionals in research, teaching and practicing of intercultural competence are members of SIETAR. Therefore the exchange of knowledge and experiences as well as the extension and consolidation of contacts have a high value.

Nr. 17, October 2008

From 10. to 12. October the national congress of Junior Chamber of Switzerland takes place in Zurich. On 11 October, CICB holds an intercultural training (paper and workshop): presentation by the two board members Thomas Baumer and Dr. Jörg Sorg. At the subsequent panel-discussion the following personalities are participating: Dr. Peter Kurer (Chairman UBS), Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot (Director Paul Scherrer Institute), Ambassador Dr. Eric Scheidegger (Vice-Director State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO) and Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schips (Director Economic Research KOF, ETH Zurich); presentation and moderation by Dr. Beat Kappeler (social scientist and economics journalist NZZ).