Increasing Cross-cultural Effectiveness

摘要

The first time I encountered cricket it looked oddly similar to American baseball. There were batsmen, infielders, outfielders, and a pitcher. I observed that cricket has runs, outs, and innings. Even the equipment looked familiar. I thought, "How different could this really be?" Then I picked up a cricket bat and took a baseball swing at the first bowl I faced. Although I was out but I thought, "No big deal, I'll improve at my next at-bat." Then I learned that I was out for the entire game! The 'rules' of doing business in another culture might not be as well defined as they are in cricket or baseball, but the differences are just as striking. In fact, effective communication and leadership across cultures is increasingly being recognized as a key factor in raising productivity and profitability in the global workspace.