What Is Cross Cultural Management?
Cross cultural management involves managing work teams in ways that considers the differences in cultures, practices and preferences of consumers in a global or international business context. Many businesses have to learn to modify or adapt their approaches in order to compete on a level in fields no longer bound by physical geography with online interactions more common in business and other situations.
While international business dealings go back hundreds of years, intercultural interactions have increased in importance with more people having access to wider markets with new technology. Not only does wireless technology shrink the world and help with faster interactions across the seas, but travel has also become faster and easier, so many people must know how to interact in different cultural contexts.
Many professions other than business also need to include cross cultural management as part of their training or curricula. For instance, academics who plan to work in different cultural situations whether at home or abroad must have effective communication skills to prevent misunderstandings and remain respectful to those with whom they hope to work. Communication holds value in any profession, so learning to communicate across various cultural contexts and situations has become essential in any field.
