Building Intercultural competence with the IDI

What is the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)?

• The IDI is a cross-cultural assessment of intercultural competence used by individuals and organizations within corporate, government, military, non-profit, and educational institutions throughout the world to achieve diversity and inclusion goals and outcomes.

• It is a 50-item questionnaire based on Dr. Milton Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS).

• It is the only theory-based assessment of intercultural competence; rigorously tested and found to possess strong validity and reliability across diverse cultural groups.

What does the IDI measure?

• Intercultural competence has been identified as a critical capability to effectively work across diverse populations. 

• The IDI assesses intercultural competence, which is our capability to shift cultural perspective and appropriately adapt behavior to cultural differences and commonalities.

• Reports present valid, quantitative information that integrates qualitative information about how an individual or group engages cultural differences in their day-to-day interactions with others.

 Why choose this assessment?

• A valuable baseline assessment and benchmarking tool for your organization. In-depth insights on how individuals and/or their team respond to cultural differences along a continuum of cross-cultural competence.

• Individual coaching debrief sessions with a Qualified Administrator and customized Intercultural Development Plans support to people in developing their intercultural competence.

• Group feedback reports help people understand the group mindset in your organization and create more effective training and development opportunities, and DEI focused organizational change efforts.

• Applicable across many dimensions of cultural groups and diversity categories (i.e., nationality, ethnicity, gender). 

• The IDI does not ask people to give up their values or beliefs and it does not measure racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.; however, it helps people understand their intercultural mindset and how to more effectively engage differences in the workplace and understand dynamics which may limit and/or facilitate DEI efforts.

Sample reports: 

• Individual reports available during individual 1:1 sessions: Profile report and IDP plan.

• Group profile report available during a group session. 

 More resources:

• Why Consider Using the IDI​ Handout | IDI Homepage

• Video: An Introduction to the Intercultural Development Inventory (3.28 minutes)

• Video Practical Applications of the Intercultural Development Inventory (26.50 minutes)

Are you interested in taking the Intercultural Development Inventory for yourself or your organization? Please send me an email.