ABSTRACT
With the increase of globalization, everything is changing. International markets have become stronger, multinational companies have increased, international mobility has become essential for many employees, information technologies continue to grow and the multicultural environment has exploded. In this ever changing global environment, individuals are being challenged to work in complex cross-cultural arenas in which they may or may not have appropriate skills. They are thrown into new business opportunities and expected to be able to communicate, manage, and negotiate effectively in global settings. Studies show that the number of long, short, intraregional, and commuter assignments will surge with more expatriates exposed to cross-cultural situations (Brookfield Global Relocation Services 2010). Executives who operate across national boundaries will be challenged by complex business problems that are linked to the capacity of their people’s mindsets and behaviors to operate in this new global domain (Pucik 2005). The need for individuals to possess intercultural competence is becoming essential to meet the demands of the business world (Yu 2012). This “boundaryless” business environment will continue to drive changes in where an organization does business and what it needs from its people to compete and thrive in both existing and emerging markets.
