Radio Show #486: Managing the Cross-Cultural Interface in International Business

Special Guest: Rajesh Kumar

As firms enhance their global presence they are confronted with a myriad of differences, ranging from the legal and the regulatory to cultural differences. Each culture has a set of cherished values/beliefs on the basis of which they operate and in cross-cultural interaction a conflict may potentially emerge between different sets of values. Asian cultures, for example, have a collectivistic orientation, whereas North American/European cultures are individualistic in their essence. Differences in national culture can impact global teamwork, prove a hindrance to successful negotiations, and or prevent trust building. In our conversation, we will explore the different ways in which national culture impacts global business and the steps that companies can take to enhance their cross-cultural effectiveness.

Dr Kumar is an expert in International Business Strategy and Cross-Cultural Management. Originally from India, Dr Kumar has lived and worked in the United States, U.K., Denmark, France, Finland, Netherlands, and New Zealand. He has developed a deep appreciation and awareness of the importance of the cross-cultural dimension and how it impacts strategy formulation and implementation. He has a Ph.D. degree in International Business from New York University, an MBA from Rutgers University, and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of Delhi. He has published numerous research papers in academic journals and is the coauthor of a book on Doing Business in India which was published by Macmillan in 2005 and International Negotiations in China and India published by Macmillan in 2011. Dr Kumar is also a certified Global Dexterity Trainer and is currently appearing on Leadership Podcasts as a guest where he highlights the importance of managing the cultural dimension for global companies. He also leads training programs for companies engaged in global business.

Join us as we discuss the Cross Cultural Interface in International Business

Host: Andy Goram