Your People In the World

The hazards of misunderstanding, always present in human communication, are multiplied in the intercultural environment, and manners, language and knowledge of geography are only parts of the problem. People need a framework for recognizing, collecting and applying what they will be learning throughout their careers in this new world.

9 minute readJuly 31, 2008 at 08:51 AM
By
Jonathan R. Fiske
Your People In the World
There's a lot to learn about optimum personal performance in the international marketplace of the 21st Century. Cultures can clash in many different, sometimes subtle, ways. Expensive time can be lost and damaging, unseen ill will can grow if we don't foster the right sort of awareness. The hazards of misunderstanding, always present in human communication, are multiplied in the intercultural environment, and manners, language and knowledge of geography are only parts of the problem. People need a framework for recognizing, collecting and applying what they will be learning throughout their careers in this new world.

There are thousands of cultural variations around the globe and no one can learn everything. Crucial to this framework is knowing about cultural differences and keeping an open, positive attitude. The key to building this framework is recognizing where your own cultural assumptions are; the goal is being able to choose when to 'do as the Romans do,' that is adapt to the local culture, on the one hand and, on the other hand, when, and how much to assert values from your own.

Building the Framework

The task of building the framework begins with some obvious factors. We want people to know geography and history. We want them to have multiple language skills

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