Cross Cultural Solutions for International Business
Globalisation, the expansion of intercontinental trade, technological advances and the increase in the number of companies dealing on the international stage have brought about a dramatic change in the frequency, context and means by which people from different cultural backgrounds interact.
Cross cultural solutions to international business demands are increasingly being viewed as a valid and necessary method in enhancing communication and interaction in and between companies, between companies and customers and between colleagues.
Cross cultural consultancies are involved in aiding companies to find solutions to the challenges cross cultural differences carry.
International and national businesses are ultimately the result of people. As with incompatible software, if people are running on different cultural coding, problems can occur. Cross cultural consultancies therefore concentrate their efforts on interpersonal communication.
Different cultures and cultural backgrounds between a highly diverse staff base brings with it obstacles, challenges and difficulties. Cross cultural differences manifest in general areas such as in behaviour, etiquette, norms, values, expressions, group mechanics and non-verbal communication. These cross cultural differences then follow on through to high level areas such as management styles, corporate culture, marketing, HR and PR.
In order to overcome potential pitfalls, specialist attention is required in the form of a cross cultural consultant. As one would approach a doctor for a medical diagnosis or an accountant to examine finances, cross cultural consultants offer the expertise, experience and know-how to diagnose problems and provide solutions to interpersonal cultural differences.
Within companies there are many facets in which cultural differences manifest. Some key areas which cross cultural consultants deal with include, but are not exclusive to, the following:
Cross Cultural HR: HR covers a wide range of business critical areas that need cross cultural analysis. Consultants may offer advice on a number of areas including recruitment, relocation, international assignments, staff retention and training programmes.
Cross Cultural Team-Building: in order to have a well functioning business unit within a company, communication is critical. Cross cultural consultants will provide tools and methods to promote staff integration, reduce cross cultural conflicts and build team spirit. This is essentially done through highlighting differences and building on strengths to ensure they are used positively.
Cross Cultural Synergy: international mergers, acquisitions and joint-ventures require people from different cultural backgrounds to harmonise in order to succeed. Cross cultural consultants counsel on group mechanics, communication styles, norms, values and integration processes.
Cross Cultural Awareness Training: working with colleagues, customers or clients from different cultural backgrounds, with different religions, values and etiquettes can occasionally lead to problems. Cross cultural awareness training is usually a generic introduction into a culture, country, region or religion. The aim is to equip the trainee with the adequate knowledge to deal comfortably with people from different cultures, avoiding misunderstandings and mistakes.
Cross Cultural Training for Expatriate Relocation: staff that travel overseas need to understand the cultural basics of the host country or region. Knowledge of the country's history, culture, laws, traditions, business practices and social etiquettes all help to minimise the impact of culture shock and hence smooth their transition overseas.
Cross Cultural Negotiations: equipped with their knowledge of the two or more cultures that can be meeting around the negotiation table, a cross cultural consultant advises on areas such as negotiation strategies, styles, planning, closure and etiquette in order to increase the chance of a successful outcome, free from misunderstandings, suspicions and general cross cultural communication breakdown.
Cross Cultural PR Consultancy: brand image, public relations and advertising are all areas companies must be careful of when moving out of the national context. Tastes and values change dramatically from continent to continent. It is crucial to understand whether the brand name, image or advertising campaign is culturally applicable in the target country. Cross cultural consultants examine words, images, pictures, colours and symbols to ensure they fit well with the target culture.
Cross Cultural Language Training: Language training is an area where little investment is made by companies, but where the business advantages are great. Linguistic knowledge goes a long way in bridging cultural gaps and smoothing lines of communication. Cross cultural consultancies provide language training to business staff, moulding their learning to the business environment in which they work.
In conclusion, clearly the role and expertise of cross cultural communication consultants is important for today's international business. The potential pitfalls cross cultural differences present to companies are extensive. In essence a cross cultural consultant's primary objective is integration. This integration, between colleagues, clients and customers is crucial for business success. Equipped with experience, knowledge and above all objectivity, a cross cultural consultant creates bridges of understanding and opens lines of communication.
For more information on cross cultural communication please visit http://www.kwintessential.co.uk
Neil Payne is Director of cross cultural communications consultancy Kwintessential.
Latest News
 Boston Globe | Wal-Mart disappoints analysts, Walgreen chops management team Bizjournals.com, NC - (NYSE:WAG) announced plans to offer early retirement and severance programs to some 1000 corporate and field management employees, or 9 percent of those ... Video: Jan 8: Stocks Boosted by Mortgage Deal Wal-Mart Declines After Management Change AP Business NewsBrief at 11:14 am EST |
Comcast Network Management Policies In Place PC Magazine - Comcast has fulfilled its pledge to put in a place a protocol agnostic network management policy by year's end, according to filings with the Federal ... Comcast Removes Blocks On File Sharing |
Paragon Wealth Management Offers Free Portfolio Reviews MSNBC - PROVO, UT - Paragon Wealth Management is offering free portfolio reviews to investors to help them know where to allocate their portfolios in 2009. ... |
Saratoga Electronic Solutions Inc. Announces Revocation of ... FOXBusiness - ... issued Management Cease Trade Order which prohibited trading by directors, officers and certain employees of Saratoga in the securities of Saratoga. ... |
 WELT ONLINE | Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management' FOXNews - CIA COVERT OFFICER : Actually, we need leadership, not management at CIA. That person who's going to be in charge of CIA is in charge of our fight, ... Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick Obama's intel picks short on direct experience Obama Is Under Fire Over Panetta Selection |
Babcock Lenders Favor Plans to Retain Management, Review Says Bloomberg - 9 (Bloomberg) -- Babcock & Brown Ltd.’s lenders favor plans that will keep management in place to oversee the sale of the company’s assets, the Australian ... |
Seven Ways to Reduce IT Costs Using Master Data Management eWeek, NY - Master Data Management (MDM) software and services are designed specifically for this purpose. An MDM platform offers a consolidated view of a company's ... |
Tensoft(R) Announces Three Revenue Cycle Management Products for ... MSNBC - Each of the three solutions is designed for companies with specific, challenging revenue management needs. All three versions improve the efficiency and ... |
Hedge Funds Lost Record 18.3% on Misjudged Markets Bloomberg - Firms such as Dwight Anderson’s Ospraie Management LLC and Jeffrey Gendell’s Tontine Associates LLC closed funds, while Paul Tudor Jones’s Tudor Investment ... Picton Mahoney Announces Domestic Hedge Fund Offerings Open to New ... |
 Snohomish Times | Record flooding forecast on Snohomish river Seattle Post Intelligencer - The Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management says about 40 roads in the county are under water. Drivers are warned not to drive into floodwater. Snohomish County bracing for floods, landslides Threat of severe flooding as more roads are closed Snohomish Opens it's EOC |
Resources
-
AdWords | Google AdWords | 21 Ways to Maximize ROI by Andrew Goodman
Get the original Google AdWords handbook by Andrew Goodman. This 155-page e-book is packed with advanced tips to help you maximize your AdWords campaigns. Download and get free December 2005 update.
-
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
Reservation software for Hotels, Motels, Bed and breakfast
-
Restaurant Checklists: restaurant menu design, cafe training, business plans, restaurant marketing a
Full package of restaurant information including restaurant menu design, training, restaurant business plans, restaurant marketing and Management forms and templates
-
Castlemelody.com: Web design and creative design of graphics
Web design with content Management system for dynamic and flexible websites.
-
...MySoftwareTemplates.com high-quality Microsoft Word templates for Software
Development, Proposal
Write successful Proposals, White Papers, Case Studies with slick templates, checklist and forms.
-
Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way!
"
-
PARENTING TOOLS to design the family of your dreams! What does your dream family look like?
Powerful tools for parenting, anger Management, and creative blocks!
-
Productivity. Improve business productivity through work measurement and method study.
Set of resources to improve worker, workplace and office productivity. Learn to measure productivity, calculate a productivity index and construct a total factor productivity index. Resources include team productivity and employee productivity.
-
Construction Information Services - Construction Management
Construction Information Services include Construction Management ebooks - Construction Software - Articles - Firm directories - Forecasting and Trends of the building industry
-
Landlord Property Management Rental Guide
Looking to manage your own rental property? Use our beginners guide for landlords and rental property investors!