One of the central questions facing global firms is how to create a corporate culture which supports and enhances global team building. There are no simple solutions to this challenge, as each formula or model brings with it some form of limitation. For example, enforcement of a very strong corporate culture which reflects headquarter s biases will tend to suppress the value of local norms and business processes. The approach of cultural consonance embodies the goal of dynamic harmony. That is, global teams may, through a continuous learning process, create a working collaboration which incorporates difference while promoting effective task and team management.
Cultural consonance is a practice for envisioning and creating that balance.
If we think of building consonance as a cyclical learning process, where each stage provides feedback to the next, then built into the system is an opportunity for practice and process refinement. To establish a foundation for cultural consonance, there must be an open dialog about values among the global operations of the firm. This is a thorny process which often results in surface compliance rather than a real dialog over the meeting of headquarter s values and local cultural norms. Understanding Cultural Diversity in Global Business . In the differentiation stage of highlighting cultural difference, it is essential to have a skilled facilitator who can maintain an atmosphere of acceptance and open dialog over difference.