Challenges for management development in the German-speaking nations for the twenty-first century

Close inspection reveals subtle differences in managerial style and culture within Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Foreign management development (MD) practitioners are more likely to be impressed by the management and cultural similarities within the German-speaking nations, especially when contrasted with the North American model. While many of the MD techniques used in the German-speaking areas will be familiar to North American practitioners, not all foreign MD techniques are directly applicable to management in the German-speaking region. Nonetheless, these countries face familiar challenges in developing managers into the twenty-first century. These countries need managers who can cope with rapid change, manage innovation and new technologies, develop their human resource and management skills, face globalisation, deal with information technology, as well as manage teams and external workforces. Many of these areas offer opportunities for foreign MD practitioners. Promoting intercultural development could be a strong argument for exposing German-nation managers to foreign MDPs.