Training and development is essential for reaching not only globalization, but also global competitiveness. For example, Japan and Germany are two of the toughest and reining business competitors and they both have outstanding training and development programs. This helps both countries maintain high levels of production. When change occurs as dramatically and rapidly as we have witnessed in the past decade, many people throughout the world are being forced to quickly learn and adapt to unfamiliar ways to doing things. Some actually welcome change and the opportunities it presents, while others are reluctant to give up familiar ways of doing things.
History proves that cultures are slow to change.
But, individuals who are mentally prepared to accept change and deal with differences can successfully adapt to cultures very different form their own. A culture develops when individuals have common experiences and share their reactions to these experiences by communication with other members of their society. Over time, communication becomes the vehicle by which cultural beliefs and values are developed, shared and transmitted from one generation to the next. Communication and culture are mutually dependent. Effective communication between governments or international businesses requires more than being able to speak the language fluently or relying on expert interpreters.