Fons Trompenaars is invited to give a keynote on The Social Conference in Amsterdam . As an expert on effect of culture and business he will address the culture-free challenges that all cultures face when implementing social media-centric approaches. Adoption and deployment of social media and the associated rules of interaction usually create tension in the ways companies are working. These tensions, or dilemmas can be traced back to the competing orientations between the way business practices have been traditionally structured on the one hand and the practices that come associated with social media on the other hand. So for example when deploying social media strategies do we go for hierarchical directives or egalitarian networks? Do we throw all our privacy on the web or do we protect our inner intimacy? Do we go for bricks or ticks; for hi-touch or hi-tech?

Trompenaars will argue that the successful deployment and adoption of social media tools require the reconciliation of these dilemmas. His general research reveals a series of frequently recurring dilemmas but that every organization seems to have different priorities when focusing on which need to be reconciled in order to achieve long-term success for the organization. The priority is culturally determined.
For the very specific purpose of The Social Conference Trompenaars’ team has set up a questionnaire to et a deeper insight in the dilemma’s you are facing. Please feel free to go to their site and complete it. It takes just 15-20 minutes and the results will be made available to you. www.thtconsulting.com and use password EmerceSC9

Fons Trompenaars also participate in the Social Talk International Strategy
In the 90’s strategic management thinking viewed strategy as either a plan, a pattern, a position, a perspective or a ploy (Mintzberg). In the era of social business, do all these meanings of strategy still apply? Who should lead the formation of social strategy in the organisation? When deploying social projects in an international organisation, what are the greatest challenges? What are the management dilemmas that are most common for Dutch multinationals?
How should multinationals cope with the different dominating platforms in different countries?

Biography
Fons was voted one of the top 20 HR Most Influential International Thinkers 2011 by HR Magazine. He is also ranked in the Thinkers50 to be one of the most influential management thinkers alive (www.thinkers50.com) in November 2011 and shortlisted as making substantial strides in the contribution to the understanding of globalization and the new frontiers established by the emerging markets. Fons wrote Riding the Waves of Culture, Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. This book sold over 120,000 copies and was trated into 9 languages. He is co-author of Seven Cultures of Capitalism, Building Cross-Cultural Competence and 21 Leaders for the 21st Century with Charles Hampden-Turner. Recently he published Riding the Whirlwind, a dynamic new take on creativity and innovation.