Chapter 8- Navigating intercultural interactions

This podcast accompanies Chapter 8 "Navigating intercultural interactions" of our textbook. Intercultural interaction is at the core of any international business activity. It plays a key role in the exchange of knowledge, the development of business relationships, and in cooperating with business partners. In this chapter, we introduce two contemporary approaches to create successful intercultural interactions that are critical to the well-being and performance of individual employees, international teams, and the performance of their organizations. First, we introduce the culture map, its dimension and practical application. A more comprehensive exercise assists the reader in training the usage of the culture map to successfully navigate cultural differences. Second, we discuss the concept of intercultural competence or cultural intelligence, that is the capability to function and manage effectively in new cultural contexts. We offer toolsets that assist in the recruitment of interculturally competent employees, and in assessing the own level of cultural intelligence. Finally, we discuss the approach to intercultural competence development and training at a large technology related multinational firm. Keywords: Intercultural interaction, intercultural competence, culture map, cultural intelligence, multicultural personality, intercultural competence development International Business Strategy and Cross-Cultural Management: An applied approach written by: Nicole Franziska Richter (Professor of International Business at the University of Southern Denmark), Jesper Strandskov (Professor Emeritus of International Business at the University of Southern Denmark), Sven Hauff (Professor of Human Resource Management at Helmut Schmidt University in Germany), Vasyl Taras (Professor of International Business at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the US) published by: Edward Elgar Publishing. Link: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/international-business-strategy-and-cross-cultural-management-9781839108648.html