Localization: Training and Development in India

by Jen Weaver  

 

While it failed to be renewed for another season, the 2010 NBC show "Outsourced" shed a comical light on some of the cultural nuances to doing business in India. Miss the show? Never fear. In this article we'll explore some common cultural facts about Indians and their expectations when it comes to training and development.

 

Test your Knowledge of Indian Culture

1. Match the old westernized city name with its present replacement.
   
   

   Colonial Name	Current Name
   Calcutta Bombay Madras	Mumbai Chennai Kolkata

2. What two world religions were born in India?

Quick Tips for Training & Development in India¹:

• Resist the urge to change "Indian" to "Native American" out of political correctness. Aboriginal tribes in North America are Native Americans, and individuals from India are Indians.
• Hindi is the national language, although English is extremely common especially given the high volume of U.S. jobs outsourced to India presently. Depending on your audience, it's likely you won't need to translate training materials, but pay close attention to learner retention and quiz scores. Students learn best in their own language. If your trainees aren't scoring as well as their native English-speaking counterparts, you may want to pilot translated materials to see if results improve.
• Most Indians are Hindu, a religion that supports their social caste system. Many Hindus are vegetarians and won't wear leather, as cows are regarded as sacred. A smaller percentage of Indians are Muslim and do not eat pork. Keep this in mind when selecting meals, attire, and images or examples in your training materials.
• If you're training on location in India, be sure to drink bottled water and avoid eating raw produce that is at risk of being contaminated. Many travelers face digestive issues from overindulgence in spicy food, so come prepared with necessary medications. The last thing you want is to search for a pharmacy in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar country.
• When it comes to decision-making, objective facts are less persuasive than appealing to individual feelings and religious beliefs.
• Relationships are more important than vocational experience; however, higher levels of education are still highly valued.
• Another common cultural norm is fatalism--the belief that all events are predetermined and, therefore, inevitable. This contributes to passivity in decision-making and a casual approach to time and schedules.
• Male chauvinism abounds, and women do not have equal privileges. If your training team includes female instructors, be mindful that this may impact learner receptivity. Also, orthodox Muslim men will not touch women. To be safe, it's ideal to wait for the Indian representative to offer his hand to shake. The word "Namaste" is also an acceptable greeting as a replacement for shaking hands.
• Standing with your hands on your hips is seen as angry and aggressive. Pointing with your finger is also rude, and you may notice many Indians pointing with their chin instead.
• Never point your feet at someone, as feet are considered unclean. If your shoes or feet happen to touch another person, be sure to apologize.
• Black and white are deemed unlucky colors, while green, red, and yellow are considered lucky. These are good perspectives to keep in mind when branding training materials or selecting gifts for Indian counterparts.

 Trivia Answers:

1. Mumbai is the present name for what was once Bombay. Chennai is the present name for Madras, and Kolkata is the present name for Calcutta.
2. Hinduism and Buddhism.

 References:

 

¹Morrison, Terri, & Conaway, Wayne A. (2006). Kiss, bow, or shake hands (2nd ed.). Avon: Adams Media.

 

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Developing international training and development materials? Contact Jen at Carmazzi Global Solutions.