Module 1 : Successful personal integration in Morocco

1. Cross-cultural awareness : the key to a successful expatriation

• Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
• Culture shock and the integration process
• Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes

2. Key aspects of Moroccan culture

• A multifaceted kingdom
• Separate ethnic groups: Arabs and Berbers
• Religious coexistence: Islam, Christianity and Judaism
• A heritage as old as it is illustrious
• The legacy of the protectorates and Arab-Muslim nationalism
• The Moroccan monarchy: change through continuity
• Territorial points of contention: the  maghzen
• The weaknesses and opportunities of the Moroccan economic model

3. Moroccan values and behaviour patterns

• The influence of Islam on Moroccan behaviour
• An immeasurable view of time: the importance of the collective mindset
• Hospitality and courtesy.  Honour and loyalty
• Clans and networks.  Inequality of opportunity and zakat
• Moroccan women on the road to emancipation

4. Practical day-to-day information

• Focus on the host town or city
• Transport, administration, housing, security, hygiene and healthcare
• Social life, leisure activities
• Schools, extracurricular activities, sport

Module 2 : Successful professional integration in Morocco

1. The Moroccan corporate world

• From small companies to world class firms
• The role of the state and the authorities: an extensive bureaucracy
• Understanding the Moroccan hierarchy: a respect for age and status
• Pragmatism and adaptability. The importance played by emotional aspects.
• A general set of rules with countless exceptions

2. Effective communication with the Moroccans

• The Arabic-speaking and French-speaking worlds
• Body language. Attention to one’s appearance: charisma and eloquence
• The verbal promise: a declaration of good intentions
• Qualifying your statements. The importance of “getting it in writing”.
• Networking and the flow of information

3. Working with Moroccan teams

• Effective management. Building confidence
• Politeness and a keen sense of service
• Decision-making processes
• Conflict avoidance and resolution: tempering criticism with euphemisms

4. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Moroccans

• The preparatory phase: identifying decision makers and priorities
• The importance of mediators: learning to compromise
• The joys of haggling: patience and flexibility
• Attitudes to contracts and their implications: a one-to-one commitment

5. Final handy tips

• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion