The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) may only be administered by licensed IDI Qualified Administrators (QAs) who have completed the IDI Qualifying Seminar (QS). Organizations can engage with the IDI in several ways, depending on their goals, capacity, and timeline.
Common Approaches to Implementing an IDI Project
Organizations typically engage with the IDI with using one of the following approaches:
Hire External QAs
Hire a QA consultant not employed by the organization
Train Internal QAs
Train one or more current employees to become QAs, or hire a trained QA to work full time for the organization.
Use a combination of internal and external QAs
Train internal QAs while also hiring external QA consultants. Common reasons for this approach include:
- Starting with an external QA and later training internal QAs to continue the work
- Training internal QAs while also engaging experienced external QAs for specialized expertise or additional services
- Using internal QAs but hiring external QAs to support capacity needs, such as conducting Individual Debriefs for large projects
Each approach has benefits and considerations and the best choice will depend on your specific needs.
Using Internal QAs
Many organizations train internal QAs to administer the IDI. QAs often use the IDI with all levels of staff or administration. Typically organizations do not experience any issues with using their own employees to administer the IDI, particularly when there is clear communication about the purpose and process of the IDI project, and clearly stated and adhered to policies around confidentiality.
Training internal QAs may be the best choice for organizations that plan to:
- Implement the IDI across roles, teams, or departments
- Use the IDI for ongoing development
- Use the IDI with future staff or cohorts
Training internal QAs can also be more cost-effective for organizations with ongoing IDI use.
For more information on selecting internal staff for the QA role see: Who in our organization should become an IDI QA?
Using External QAs
Organizations may choose to hire an external QA consultant for a variety of reasons, including:
- The IDI will only be use for a small one-time engagement
- There is limited internal capacity to take on the QA role
- The organization wants to explore the IDI before making a larger commitment
- There is a desire to work with a QA who brings specific experience or additional services
Not sure which approach is the best fit for your organization? We're happy to chat with you about your specific situation! Reach out to us at support@idiinventory.com and let's figure out what will work best for you.