Face-to-Face workshop – Preparing an Australian Team for Successful PoC Delivery in Malaysia

May 2026 – IT industry

Challenge

Over the years, we have trained and coached teams and executives for this client. On this occasion, we were asked to support a designated SME team in preparing to deliver a five-day Proof of Concept (PoC) for a prospective client in Malaysia.

The objective was to help the team build a stronger understanding of culturally different working styles and practices, and to recognise behaviours that could influence both the delivery and acceptance of the PoC.

Interventions for the SME Team

• Workshop introduction: Setting the scene, clarifying roles, and defining tasks
• Cultural awareness recap: Revisiting key intercultural frameworks and models
• PoC preparation workshop: Exploring how cultural differences in values, practices, and behaviours could influence the PoC
• Communication style assessment: Participants identified their preferred communication styles using the Action Type Profiler
• Scenario-based learning: Working through realistic scenarios to prepare for potential challenges during the five-day PoC

Results and Learning Outcomes

• Increased cultural awareness and a stronger ability to recognise key differences
• Improved understanding of the cultural dynamics between Australia and Malaysia and their potential impact on the PoC
• Greater clarity on team roles and on how to operate effectively in a culturally diverse delivery context

Participant Feedback

Verbal feedback collected after the sessions, together with follow-up emails from senior stakeholders, was highly positive:

“Thank you very much for the prep and workshop last week. I knew it was going to be worthwhile, but you exceeded expectations again!”
VP APAC

“Thanks Joost! A great workshop, with very good feedback from the team.”
Country Manager, Australia