Getting Started as an IDI Qualified Administrator

This article is intended for newly licensed IDI Qualified Administrators. If you are not a licensed IDI Qualified Administrator and are interested in being licensed to use the Intercultural Development Inventory, visit this article: Should I become an IDI Qualified Administrator (QA)?

Step 1 - Become familiar with and get comfortable with the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC)

Step 2 - Get comfortable with and practice the Profile Report Debriefing process

Step 3 - Understand how you will use the IDI

Step 1 - Become familiar with and get comfortable with the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC)

1. Review the Orientation Descriptions (Resource Guide - Core Concepts)
2. Review the Intercultural Development Continuum: QA Quick Reference chart (Resource Guide > Core Concepts) & the Individual Debrief Strategies & Tips chart (Resource Guide > Delivering IDI Debriefs)
3. Familiarize yourself with the IDI Individual Profile Report for each orientation (Exemplar Book) 
4. Review the following webinar series in your QA Admin Account under QA Resources > Workshops and Webinars > Past Webinars - Recordings and Resources
   1. Understanding and Applying the Intercultural Development Inventory 
   2. The IDI and Racial Justice: Toward a Developmental Approach to Dismantling Systemic Racism, especially the handouts for parts 1-4 
5. Read articles about the development of the IDI. These provide additional information/discussion of the IDC. Be aware that the IDI has been updated since its inception and some concepts presented in the articles may no longer apply. However, the information presented is still helpful info to learn more about the IDC. For example:
   • Hammer, M.R. (2008). The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI): An Approach for
     assessing and building intercultural competence. In M.A. Moodian (Ed.), Contemporary
     leadership and intercultural competence: Understanding and utilizing cultural diversity
     to build successful organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
   • Bennett, M. J. (2004). Becoming interculturally competent. In J.S. Wurzel (Ed.) Toward
     multiculturalism: A reader in multicultural education. Newton, MA: Intercultural Resource Corporation.

Step 2 - Get comfortable with and practice the Profile Report Debriefing process

1. Review each IDI Individual Profile Report and Intercultural Development Plan (IDP) in the Exemplar Book 
2. Read through the steps of Delivering Group and Individual Debriefs (Resource Guide > Delivering IDI Debriefs)
3. Feel free to use the scripts provided if you like (Resource Guide > Delivering IDI Debriefs)
   • As you feel more comfortable you will likely be most effective if you use your own words and language you are comfortable with
   • This information is a guideline – you may find that what works best for you looks different
4. Enlist friends/family/peers to help you practice – use the Exemplar Reports or purchase IDI assessments for them to complete. 

Step 3 - Understand how you will use the IDI

Please see the IDI Guided Development Assessment Roadmap for more information (Resource Guide > Delivering IDI Debriefs)

1. Will you conduct Group Debriefs, Individual Debriefs, or both?
   • The IDI can also be used as a pre/post assessment for interventions and as a whole organization baseline assessment, as well as for research.
   • In order to share an Individual Profile Report and IDP with a respondent you MUST conduct a one-on-one Individual Debrief. Participation in a Group Debrief is NOT a substitute for having an Individual Debrief, and Individual Profile Reports may not be shared in a Group Debrief or other group setting. 
   • The budget and time available for the IDI project may impact whether you conduct Group and/or Individual Debriefs and share results.
2. Establish a Confidentiality Policy
   • IDI, LLC does not have a standard confidentiality policy. You should work with the organization to develop a policy appropriate for their use of the IDI. Please review the IDI Guided Development Assessment Roadmap for more information (Resource Guide > Delivering IDI Debriefs)
   • In general, IDI Individual results are shared with the respondent and the QA ONLY. Please connect with IDI, LLC if you are considering sharing Individual results beyond the individual recipient.
3. Determine the time commitment needed
   • Group Debriefs (1-4 hours with entire group)
   • Individual Debriefs (minimum 30 minutes per person in an individual one-on-one)
   • Administration time (purchasing assessments, sending emails, follow-ups, etc.)
4. Follow-up? (Will you be available for questions? If so, for how long?)
5. Determine what information you will share with respondents ahead of time.

   • Communicate to respondents as clearly as possible what the IDI is (and isn’t), why they are participating (e.g. How does the IDI fit into their larger role?), what they can expect as far as receiving results, and confidentiality

   • You should refrain from going into detail about the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC) prior to respondents completing the IDI, although you can share general information about it

   • It can be helpful to send respondents detailed information in the invitation email, such as:

     • Time required

     • Deadline to complete

     • Clarifications for instructions for completing the IDI, including how culture is defined in the IDI

     • Additional instructions

     • Next steps

   • We have provided a sample template of an introductory email for your use