Key intercultural business communication resources

Many academics have studied culture and intercultural communication, particularly as globalisation continues to have an impact on the corporate sector.

Studies on specific relationships between various groups might provide insight into how to teach managers to be competent in cross-cultural circumstances, providing greater guidance for professionals encountering intercultural issues.

As intercultural communication becomes more important in the corporate world, training for such scenarios will help businesses thrive by bridging cultural gaps when working in a cross-cultural environment.

In search of a good book to read on intercultural or cross-cultural communication? Check out some of the key authors, best books and leading journals on the topic, chosen by our MA in Intercultural Business Communication Course Leader, Shakeel Ahmed.

Authors

Geert Hofstede – a Dutch social psychologist known for his pioneering work on cross-cultural groups and organisations
Edward T. Hall – an American anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher who developed the concept of proxemics and explored cultural and social cohesion
Fons Trompenaars – a Dutch organisational theorist known for the development of Trompenaars’ model of national culture differences
Charles Hampden-Turner – a British management philosopher who created Dilemma Theory
Edgar Schein – an American professor known for his work in the field of organisational development
Richard D. Lewis – a British communication consultant known for his ‘Lewis Model of Cross-Cultural Communication’
Erin Meyer – an American author and professor known for her work on how national cultural differences impact business
Meredith Belbin – a British researcher and management consultant known for his work on management teams

Books

Hall, E.T., (1997). Beyond culture. Anchor Books

This book opens up new dimensions of understanding and perception of human experience by helping us rethink our values in constructive ways

Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. McGraw-Hill Education

Based on research conducted in more than seventy countries over a forty-year span, Cultures and Organizations examines what drives people apart - when cooperation is so clearly in everyone’s interest

Lewis, R.D. (2008) Cross-cultural Communication. Transcreen Publications

This book explores how different cultures use speech and communicate at meetings, listen to others, lead their subordinates, and manage their staff

Liu, S., Volcic, Z. and Gallois, C., (2018). Introducing intercultural communication: Global cultures and contexts. Sage

This book presents concepts, theories and applications from the field of intercultural communication

Meyer, E. (2014) The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business. PublicAffairs

Erin Meyer provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business

Thomas L Warren (2017) Cross-cultural Communication. Routledge

A collection of essays that examines how practitioners can improve the acceptance of their documentation when communicating to cultures other than their own

Trompenaars, A. & Hampden-Turner, C. (2012). Riding the waves of culture: Understanding diversity in global business. McGraw-Hill Education

The definitive guide to one of the 21st century's most pressing management concerns - effectively leading people and organisations in an increasingly global business environment

Cross-Cultural Management Textbook

A practical course-book from 12 world authority authors that synthesises contemporary cross-cultural communication and management knowledge for students and professionals

Journals

Understand and critically analyse research relating to communication, language, culture, society, and business with UCLan's online MA in Intercultural Business Communication. Study part-time and choose from three start dates: