INDUSTRY BRIEFING – we look at the Finance, Education, Health and Age Care Industries and explore challenges and identify experiences to understand the impact of cultural differences in each industry. We propose interventions and solutions to solve the cultural problems.

CULTURAL COLUMN – Humour is culturally influenced and you better be aware of it before using your favourite joke. It might just cost you the deal…

CULTURAL COLUMN – International and multicultural organisations need to invest in building and maintaining high levels of trust in business as this correlates positively with innovation, competitive advantage, support for change and increased productivity.

CULTURAL COLUMN -Understanding the impact of culture on virtual teams is important for the business effectiveness – looking at the difference between interpersonal trust and task-related trust is vital for virtual teams to be able to work together while being apart.

CULTURAL COLUMN – We need to identify the skills and competencies that make the difference between a translator and a culturally competent translator. The translator’s ability to culturally interpret and adjust a text for use in a different culture, keeping in mind the intended outcome.

CULTURAL COLUMN – The way we perceive time is part of our cultural make-up; it makes us feel comfortable and helps us understand what is going on. Dealing with people who have a preference for another approach to time can make us feel uneasy and frustrated.

CULTURAL COLUMN – The bamboo or cultural ceiling are seen as the barriers that keep those of Asian and other cultural background away from the highest levels of leadership in business and the law. A higher than average turn over of culturally diverse staff seems to be the high price to pay.

CULTURAL COLUMN – Being culturally knowledgeable about what to expect and skilled in dealing with cultural different practices before you embark on international sales expeditions can help becoming successful and close more deals

CULTURAL COLUMN – Managers of culturally diverse teams need cross cultural leadership skills which enables them to understand the differences in expectations from egalitarian and hierarchical cultures and the impact on preferred management style.

CULTURAL COLUMN – Different cultures have very different ideas as to how rules, morals, and laws should be applied causing much cross-cultural surprise, confusion and frustration.