The Importance of Intercultural Competence in the Development of Successful International Businesses

7 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2014

See all articles by Hanjo Hamann

Hanjo Hamann

EBS Law School; Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods

Date Written: August 1, 2004

Abstract

The essay discusses the importance of language learning, understanding of other peoples, and cultural awareness (together "intercultural competence") in developing successful business. It outlines theoretical problems posed by cross-cultural business ventures and then considers, in turn, three essential phases in the product life cycle (adaptation, engineering and marketing). Using various examples from recent years and two case studies (British East India Company and Infineon Technologies), it illustrates how business ventures can falter from a lack of intercultural competence or flourish in its presence. – The essay won 1st prize in the 2004 John Payne Competition of the European Business School (ebs) London.

Keywords: intercultural competence, culture, business, communication, language, media

JEL Classification: F23, L23, M10, M31, M54, N83, Z10

Suggested Citation

Hamann, Hanjo, The Importance of Intercultural Competence in the Development of Successful International Businesses (August 1, 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2486647 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2486647

Hanjo Hamann (Contact Author)

EBS Law School ( email )

Gustav-Stresemann-Ring 3
Wiesbaden, Hessen 65189
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.ebs.edu/en/lecturers/hamann-hanjo

Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods ( email )

Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 10
D-53113 Bonn, 53113
Germany

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