Chapter 8: Foundations for Cross-Cultural Success

Cultural predispositions impact our interactions, partnerships, working styles, and modes of organizing. Cultural preferences affect the way we see the world and the way the world sees us. For people who operate in a variety of cultures, success depends on the ability to sustain core values and goals while adapting to local beliefs and practices. In some situations, managers need in-depth understanding of one local culture. In other situations, managers need to work with a variety of international stakeholders, each of whom carries his or her own cultural imprint. Long-term effectiveness across ethnic, religious, or national boundaries requires that leaders and managers develop cultural competencies that will enable them to adapt appropriately. These competencies include the ability to analyze cultural tendencies, resolve human rights issues, and communicate with divergent audiences. Necessary skills include distinguishing between innate-human and cultural factors, interpreting key dimensions of culture, and knowing which kinds of cultural attributes require special attention. Cultural competencies empower organization leaders to build positive partnerships and effective organizational processes in cultures that are not their own. This chapter will help you develop your cultural competencies. Before you reach the final page, you will know more about your cultural predispositions, about managing successfully across cultures, and about helping your organization make a positive impact on its international employees, partners, and communities.