It is impossible for companies, governments and international organizations to be an expert in every culture.

Cross-cultural researchers, such as Geert Hofstede have therefore been working on models to make cultures of the world transparen

There is a reason why research about cultures and cultural differences is so important. Being able to communicate and work with people from other cultures and being able to function in intercultural teams (even within your own culture there are subcultures) has become a competence that can make the difference between a successful company or organization or a failure.

Emergence, the global Research Institute for Cultural Differences executes and facilitates research projects that help build models on interculturality, develop tools that help people understand each other and gathers data on cultures and cultural differences.

Intercultural competences such as intercultural sensitivity, recognizing cultural differences and misunderstandings, are the skills of a professional in the twenty-first century. The difference between successful and unsuccessful companies is the level of intercultural competences of the owners, leaders and all its employees.