Cultural Intelligence People Skills for Global Business

Much more than simply a list of protocols, Cultural Intelligence helps readers develop a mind-set that can be applied to any number of countries, cultures, and business situations. It is a systematic way to approach the tremendous variety of interactions and challenges that business people must face around the world - much easier and more realistic than documenting every trait of every culture and preparing to cater to each. This book presents a three-stage process for becoming culturally intelligent. These steps involve learning the fundamental principles of cross-cultural interactions, such as what cultures are, how they might vary, and how they affect behavior; practicing mindfulness and paying attention in a reflective and creative way to cues; and developing a repertoire of behavioral skills that can be adapted to different situations. It takes time and effort to develop high cultural intelligence, but this book helps readers with the right attitude begin this rewarding experience.

Thomas is Professor of International Management at Simon Fraser University.

Kerr Inkson is Professor of Management at the University of Otago, Visiting Professor of Management at Victoria University of Wellington, and Honorary Research Fellow at Massey University, all in New Zealand. He has a PhD from the University of Otago. Since commencing his academic work in the 1960s Kerr has had a distinguished career in management studies and organizational behavior, and has worked at a number of business schools in the New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. Since the early 1990s his research has focused on careers, and he published The New Careers (co-authored by Michael B Arthur and Judith K Pringle) with Sage in 1999. Other recent books include Management: New Zealand Perspectives (third edition, Prentice-Hall, 2002, co-authored with Darl Kolb) and Cultural Intelligence (Berrett-Koehler, 2004, co-authored with David C. Thomas). He is author of several other books and over 100 refereed journal articles and book chapters, many of them on career themes. In 2005-6 he was Chair of the Careers Division, Academy of Management. Website: http: //www.commerce.otago.ac.nz/mgmt/staff/kinkson.htm Email: [email protected].