Where to from here?

"Because management philosophies and practices are culturally conditioned, it stands to reason that there is much to be gained by including cultural studies in all management or professional development. This is particularly relevant during the global transformation underway. Culturally skilled leaders are essential for the effective management of global corporations, as well as for the furtherance of mutually beneficial world trade and exchange."

---Philip R. Harris and Robert T. Moran in Managing Cultural Differences: A New World of Business, 5^th edition, 2000

A very wide range of intercultural services is available to international organizations and corporations today. The number and complexity of the options is growing rapidly. The services and products are unique and should not be considered interchangeable commodities. In order to choose wisely from among so many alternatives, you must have an independent basis of comparison. To gain this perspective you need to become familiar with the purposes, features, and applications of the various offerings. Your investment of time and attention will produce excellent payoffs in the quality of the buying decisions you make and will contribute significantly to the intercultural competence of your organization or company.

Intercultural Services Focus Questions

• Based on your organization or company's global mission and your employees’ cross-cultural challenges it, which services are most appropriate and feasible?
• Which services seem most compatible with the learning styles and preferences of your employees? Which will best meet their needs and fulfill their objectives?
• Are your key human resource managers and training staff familiar with the features of the different options? If not, how do you plan to familiarize them?
• Are the providers’ marketing materials and other descriptive information on the services detailed and clear regarding the approaches, methods, and models upon which they are based? If not, how will you obtain this information?
• Do you understand the tradeoff between various programs, products, and online services?
• If budgetary or other constraints limit your options, which of the services or products are most feasible under current conditions? Which ones will best help build support and lay a foundation for more comprehensive and effective solutions in the future?

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