Intercultural Skills Essay

2008 Words9 Pages
Intercultural Skills A guide to working with other cultures Written by: Gabriela Dorn and Alexandra Cavalieri-Koch Edited and published by CILT, the National Centre for Languages Copyright © CILT 2005 RLN North West Appreciating that individuals from different cultural backgrounds have different cultural norms, practices and expectations is vital for success in international business. Although companies all around the world seem to move closer to common practices and appear to become more alike each day, differences in the way we think or act profoundly influence business interactions. Contents: 03 04 06 09 10 12 About this guide What are intercultural skills? Where are intercultural skills needed? How are intercultural skills acquired? Business terms Where to go next About this guide Appreciating that individuals from different cultural backgrounds have different cultural norms, practices and expectations is vital for success in international business. Although companies all around the world seem to move closer to common practices and appear to become more alike each day, differences in the way we think or act profoundly influence business interactions. People and companies may have certain similarities on the surface, but our upbringing, our education and training in ways of conducting business, the basis for our judgements and behaviour, all vary - not only from country to country, but from region to region, from small company to large company, from one business sector to another. When there was relatively limited contact, and contacts were confined to a small number of individuals, cultural awareness was the preserve of a few. In today’s world of global communications, team empowerment, everyone needs some level of cultural awareness. This guide: • • • • • 02 gives a definition of intercultural skills; explains in which business interactions

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