Globalisation has had an enormous impact on the way companies conduct
business across borders. In the last 20 years, mergers and aquisitions have
put great demands on top-level management teams, often operating with
different styles and competence within ever shrinking deadlines. This trend
has also highlighted the need for successful companies to be culturally
sensitive, especially when negotiating.
To succeed in these economically challenged times, staff working on foreign
assignments need to appreciate the cultural differences and similarities
between the clients/colleagues they work with and their own cultural
background. Judgement, expectations and priorities vary widely across the
globe, as do the interpretation of norms and values.
IBI stimulates clients to examine and understand cross cultural issues by
using two parallel strategies:
Developing cross cultural strategies:
How can organisations operating internationally handle cross cultural
dilemmas effectively? What can be done to manage the diversity of values
amongst stakeholders? IBI offers practical insights, drawing on results from
cross cultural studies and conflict management research. We help our clients
understand and resolve the value tensions they face. Better understanding
leads to better job satisfaction and longer commitment.
Preparing staff for international roles:
Employees need training to understand and appreciate the environment of
their foreign posting before they depart. Leaving intercultural competence
to chance leads to a major loss in productivity once the assignment starts.
Staff learning by trial and error are often unaware that their actions may
be causing deep offence, disappointment or anger to their foreign clients.
We draw on insights from psychology, business anthropology and related
fields to help our clients develop relevant skills when communicating,
negotiating and collaborating in cultures different from their own.
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