Learning cultures on the fly - towards a global mindset

Abstract

Recent technological advancements have pushed both the pace and complexity of globalization to new heights, making it possible to collaborate—or compete—globally from anywhere in the world, regardless of one's country of origin or cultural background. This presents important challenges to managers which must deal effectively with a wide variety of cultures. Traditional prescriptions based on adaptation are no longer sufficient given the speed in which new intercultural interactions take place. Newer prescriptions based on developing a global mindset are time consuming and do not address immediate issues facing managers. This paper addresses this conundrum by suggesting global managers must learn to learn cultures in action, that is, “learn cultures on the fly”. Implications are discussed.