Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book combines current thinking on different cultural beliefs and values with the process of performance engineering so that managers working in culturally diverse settings will have some understanding of the issues involved and of the tools they can use to identify effective and culturally-sensitive solutions. The book looks at how the cross-cultural psychologists have picked cultural differences apart and classified them. It focuses on how cultural differences can affect every day workplace activities such as negotiation, decision-making, team-working and leadership. The book discusses the problems that can arise when different cultures work together, but also provides some suggestions for how managers can take steps to minimize such problems and use the strengths of cultural diversity to develop a more effective and stimulating working environment.