Theoretical Foundations of Intercultural Competence

Alex Matveev

Chapter 2 in Intercultural Competence in Organizations, 2017, pp 27-48 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract A theory is a tool that helps to provide an exploratory foundation to the phenomenon under investigation. Since one of the main functions of intercultural competence is to minimize misunderstandings among culturally diverse individuals, the theoretical foundation appropriate for intercultural competence research and practice should be able to explain cultural variations among people and clarify how cultural uncertainty and anxiety can be managed. This chapter presents the foundational assumptions of culture and cultural studies, introduces the Uncertainty Reduction Theory as the foundational theory for intercultural competence investigation, and puts forward the premises of common models of intercultural competence research: overseas performance model, intercultural adjustment model, and intercultural effectiveness model. This chapter also explains the cultural context of organizations, including communication context richness, power distance, individualism and collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and performance or competitiveness.

Keywords: Uncertainty Avoidance; Reduction Theory; Host Culture; Communication Competence; Uncertainty Reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:mgmchp:978-3-319-45701-7_2

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-45701-7_2

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