Customer Comments

"We would like to formally thank you for the excellent facilitation and training in working a total change process with our business unit. You remained customer driven and customer focused throughout the meetings. Your undertakings in constructing an applied training approach of change management and working differences allowed for a richly rewarding organization structure to result. Nipporica understood the depth of this effort quickly, both in working a multi-dimensional customer and then integrating these findings into an overall phased process planning initiative.This was only possible by your excellent efforts in working with each of us.It is truly rare that an outside consultant can have such an impact in the limited time given, but your team and process worked marvelously."

Joe Dury, Packaging Manager, Digital Semiconductor

"We have relied extensively on the services of Nipporica Associates, both in the U.S. and in Japan. The combination of ability to work with our staff at disparate locations and the expertise of Nipporica consultants has made them an invaluable resource for us. They know our company(ies), businesses, partners, and players, and are able to deliver services which are appropriate to the context and immediately useful. Nipporica's training and consulting has facilitated quicker effectiveness of newly appointed executives, more accurate communication, and higher consistency in policy and strategy."

Toshio Takino, President, Rohm and Haas Japan K.K.

"Nipporica Associates' staff members have all been bilingual and bicultural, extremely well-versed in international business practices, consulting and training techniques, comfortable and capable with people from many different cultures and with multicultural, multilingual groups. We were very impressed with Nipporica's intercultural insights, practical business approach, and ability to balance the language and style differences of the participants. Outcomes of their programs are always increased understanding of one another, of how culture affects our business, and agreement on mutual objectives and guidelines for cooperation. We view Nipporica as an important partner in our efforts to globalize and interculturalize our organization, and look forward to continued work with them."

Hideya Inoue, Manager of Overseas Operations, ANA Hotels International, ANA Enterprises Ltd.

"As I mentioned to you then, the course seemed to exceed my expectations. Having just returned from Japan, let me reinforce the sentiment! The program you provided was a tremendous help."

Mark E. Battista, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Director, UNUM Life and Disability Insurance

"A note of thanks for a terrific job. You were excellent presenters. We appreciate the time you spent customizing the course material to our specific needs. The program was vary valuable."

Robert Cornett, Human Resource Director, UNUM Life and Disability Insurance

"Consistently the quality of the consultants, the quality of the design and the materials, Nipporica's ability to listen and tailor the services they deliver to our needs, have been excellent. Their services are practical and business-focused, and they have a true understanding of the intercultural aspects of international business."

Yasuo Sone, Human Resources Director, Rohm and Haas Japan K.K.

"Nipporica Associate's principal, Dianne Hofner Saphiere,is intimately familiar with and highly skilled in international business practices. She is multilingual and multicultural, able to present and discuss in a culturally appropriate manner in many styles. Nipporica's methods and tools for enhancing global team productivity are some of the most practical and innovative methods I have seen."

Shuji Ohashi, Executive Vice President, Japan Management Association Consultants, Inc., CEO JMAC International North American, Inc.

"Just wanted to let you know that we used Redundancia in the Gaming and Simulation course of our Master's program in Educational Technology this week to rave reviews. The students were very impressed with Redundancia on many levels. Almost everyone in our class speaks a second language (many speak three) and, in our part of the world, language is always a hot issue. So, there was much lively
discussion and interest. For my part, as you know, I already knew the simulation but I must tell you that I was impressed with the facilitator's guide. We have been telling students the kind of things that should be included in a facilitator's guide but we had few really good examples to give. Congratulations to you and your fellow developers (including Bill Gay) for a fine product."

Sonia Ribaux and Joanne Mowat, Professors, Concordia University, Montreal

"Redundancia is the most elegant and effective activity I've ever come across."

Dee Peters, Principal Financial Group

"Ecotonos not only introduces a culture shock-type experience of difference, but also it can bridge the experience of differences and skills and competence to overcome or mediate the differences. Something like, "OK, you know about the cultural differences. Then how do you or did you behave to overcome those differences? Were (are) they effective?" Those questions can lead to their own experience of what worked and what did not work. I think bringing intercultural competence and skills into discussion is easier with Ecotonos than with other popular simulations like Barnga and Bafa Bafa."

Eriko Machi, Professor, Reitaku University

"Ecotonos went well in Wroclaw, Poland. The simulation surely works and it's a powerful tool to learn intercultural communication and problem solving skills. Especially the enculturation-acculturation process is well planned in this simulation. It gives depth to the whole process. I found that it seemed rather easy for the participants to go into their cultural roles."

P”ivi Koivumaanaho, Finland

"I have had the pleasure of working with Dianne Hofner Saphiere, President of Nipporica International, on a number of occasions. I cannot speak more highly of Dianne as an international business consultant and cross-cultural trainer! In today's world it is imperative that organizations and the people running those organizations understand what is involved in succeeding in a global market.

Dianne brings to every project superior credentials and the creative ability to clearly determine what process is best for us. She has the capability to assess what is needed and the experience to implement changes for immediate results; saving our company time and money.

In addition, last year Dianne served as a featured speaker at the World Education '98: Developing a Global Workforce Conference. We are still receiving feedback from participants who attended the two-day program. One recent comment from an attendee was, “the information I learned from Dianne's program was invaluable. I'm still using what I learned from Dianne at World Education '98, in the international MBA course I teach for the University of Arizona". When presenting the program she captured the attention of a diverse business audience with humor, intelligence and delivery, as well as with a strong message.

Dianne is more than a consultant, she is an invaluable part of our team!

Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information."

Vittoria Zack, Director , World Education, vickyz@world_ed.com