Preface Purpose With the increasing number of intercultural corporations and the internationalization of the economy, intercultural business communication continues to become more important. Government leaders, educators, and businesspersons agree that internationalizing the curriculum is important to maintaining the competitive position of the United States in the world economy. Since all international activity involves communication, students need knowledge of intercultural business communication to prepare them for upward mobility and promotion in tomorrow’s culturally diverse domestic and international environments. Contents Topics selected for Intercultural Business Communication were those considered important or essential by three Delphi panels of experts: international employees of multinational corporations, college professors who teach intercultural communication, and members of the Academy of International Business.1 We know of no other book on intercultural communication that has used research involving experts’ perceptions of the importance of topics to be covered as a basis of content selection. The topics include the following: ? The nature of intercultural communication ? Universal systems ? Contrasting cultural values ? Cultural shock ? Language ? Oral and nonverbal communication patterns ? Written communication patterns ? Global etiquette ? Business and social customs ? Intercultural negotiation process ? Intercultural negotiation components ? Laws affecting international business and travel Each chapter contains objectives, terms, questions and cases for discussion, and activities. Also provided are exercises to be used for self-evaluation of material covered and illustrations to depict various aspects of the content. Both authors have traveled or worked in a number of countries or multinational corporations and, therefore, have firsthand knowledge of many of the topics covered.