Abstract
“What’s new?” After years of extensive research into cultural differences and the release of numerous influential textbooks on cross-cultural management (e.g., Lane and Maznevski, 2019; Steers et al., 2017), it’s natural for readers to question the arrival of yet another book tackling this topic. However, the publication of Global Fitness for Global People by Spencer-Oatey, Franklin and Lazidou (2022) was a delightful revelation in my continuous pursuit of knowledge enhancement and tracking of relevant publications in cross-cultural management, both as a researcher and an educator in this very realm. The authors’ innovative approach to organizing essential themes pertaining to the effective management of cultural diversity sets this book apart from its counterparts in the field of cross-cultural management and global leadership. In their endeavor, the authors skillfully crafted a multitude of distinctive features that render it a compelling read for both managers seeking actionable insights and researchers exploring the nuances of this dynamic discipline.
To begin, the book’s title itself unveils the authors’ overarching vision and the book’s strategic stance right from the outset. The term “fitness” evokes the notion of physical training, implying a sustained commitment over time rather than a mere “quick fix for handling cultural diversity challenges” (p. 10). Essentially, the book’s objective revolves around furnishing practical tools and frameworks for the continuous growth of global people. This distinctive approach is further manifested in the book’s unique structure and components, which have been intentionally developed by the authors to engender a holistic developmental journey, transcending conventional cognitive learning approaches.
The book unfolds in three segments, each capturing a pivotal facet of the global fitness development cycle. These segments encompass: global fitness in practice (skills and qualities), global fitness engagement (mastering the development toolkit), and global fitness environment (moulding the context). In their role as “fitness coaches”, the authors have harnessed pertinent insights of cross-cultural management, weaving them into an innovative fabric that propels readers through a step-by-step journey of global fitness enhancement. Part 1 of the book spotlights the bedrock quality of self-awareness, priming readers to confront the stress emanating from uncertainty with curiosity and flexibility. Furthermore, the authors introduce cultural knowledge and understanding (with the 3Ps concept, namely, products, practices, and perspectives), before moving into specific considerations of communication and rapport management across cultures.
Part 2 introduces a collection of frameworks developed by the authors to assist readers in navigating cultural differences. These frameworks include the E4A transformational learning (i.e., engage, attend, ask, analyze, apply), 3R review tool (i.e., report, reflect, re-evaluate), and SOS adapt tool (i.e., study, observe, stretch). The authors delve into discussions covering subjects such as adaptation challenges, relationship building, team collaboration, conflict management, trust, and global leadership. Notably, Chapter 6 stands out as the book’s distinct contributions, introducing innovative frameworks (e.g., E4A, 3R, SOS) that mark the authors’ personal signatures. There frameworks offer a fresh perspective, where the authors’ determination to create something new and transformative goes beyond mere summarization of existing knowledge, offering readers an innovative learning journey.
Part 3 navigates towards broader spheres, including subjects such as well-being, learning and innovation via leveraging diversity, monitoring performance and satisfaction, and individual developmental priorities. The message is for global people to consciously “mould” environmental factors at various levels (i.e., interactional, organizational, societal, and world) to enhance individual and organizational well-being and outcomes. While my initial venture into this segment left me somewhat adrift due to the comprehensive expanse of themes explored, I must applaud the authors’ unwavering ambition and remarkable expertise in encompassing an extensive array of subjects in these chapters.
Moreover, in pursuit of their “fitness” training objective, the authors have included innovative elements such as concise case studies and interactive activities corresponding to each focal subject. Drawing from their extensive teaching and research expertise in this arena, the authors incorporate first-hand encountered cases and pedagogical exercises stemming from their instructional endeavors to engage readers to profound experiential learning. These cases encapsulate dynamic micro-interactions within cross-cultural spheres. Accompanying each case are learning-provoking inquiries (such as “can my boss decide what we eat?”), encouraging active contemplation and knowledge assimilation of readers. Additionally, I genuinely appreciate the inclusion of learning activities and key take-aways harmonizing with various themes provide tangible avenues for the application of insights gained from conceptual frameworks.
While primarily aimed at practitioners (evident in its practical frameworks and tools), this book also offers multiple implications for research. Foremost, it echoes the call for additional research attention towards intercultural interaction (Adler and Aycan, 2018), going beyond the surface-level identification and description of cultural disparities. Through its dynamic lens on “fitness,” the book adopts a dynamic perspective to address (1) challenges global people may encounter in intercultural interaction, and (2) the ongoing developmental effort requisite for global people to “develop and maintain fit” in the context of cultural diversity. It would be highly valuable for future research to further understand such dynamics in international encounter (Thomson and Gibson, in press). An explicit inclusion of temporal lens in studying intercultural interaction and global fitness would be highly desirable (Kriz et al., 2023). This exploration is especially pertinent, given the profound temporal undercurrent in the book’s fitness metaphor, imbued with vibrant dynamism.
Further research questions emerge with deeper reflections elicited by the book: What constitutes the theoretical foundation of global fitness? Beyond its necessity for continual attention and cultivation, what facets define its construct? While the authors briefly mention the person-environment (PE) fit theory as an explanatory framework for global fitness (p. 11), the subsequent absence of PE fit theory in the remaining of the book prompts important queries. How does PE fit theory intersect with global fitness and other pertinent constructs? How does global fitness differentiate from concepts like cultural intelligence (Earley and Ang, 2003; Liao and Thomas, 2020) and other cultural competences (Leung et al., 2014)? What would be the developmental process of global fitness? How would its development trigger identity transformation, with a more complex sense of multicultural selves (Lee and Gyamfi, 2022)? The latest questions are of particular research interest, in light of the book’s potent fitness metaphor. In essence, this book carries concepts of great research potential in various relevant directions.
Additional research opportunities exist around the innovative frameworks proposed by the authors (e.g., E4A, 3R, SOS, etc.). As I delved into the book, I found myself pondering their scientific underpinnings. While these concepts possess an intuitive appeal and undoubtedly contribute to the book’s uniqueness, their validation through rigorous scientific evidence remains somewhat unclear. While the primary assessment of this book should indeed revolve around its practical utility, particularly for aiding managers in their global endeavors (a goal it has admirably accomplished), it also presents an intriguing avenue for potential scientific inquiry. In essence, the book’s practical focus doesn’t preclude the opportunity for scholarly investigation into the components, dimensions, interrelationships, and both internal and external validity of these frameworks. The stage is set for future research to explore and potentially expand upon these frameworks, or even find inspiration from them, while examining the nuances of effective intercultural interaction. In doing so, this book not only serves as a practical tool but also invites the scholarly community to venture into a stimulating realm of empirical exploration, enriching our comprehension of cross-cultural dynamics.
While commendable in various aspects, there are areas in the book that could benefit from further development. One recurring observation is that amidst the profusion of frameworks and tools, there were instances where I felt somewhat lost. The wealth of content and frameworks unquestionably constitute a notable asset of the book. Nevertheless, a potential enhancement could involve establishing more explicit connections between these frameworks, thus weaving them into a coherent and seamless entity. It appears that the overarching concept of “fitness” could potentially serve as the unifying thread, harmonizing the book’s components into a cohesive and continuous narrative. Although this concept is introduced predominantly in Chapter 1, and sporadically resurfaces in subsequent chapters (as indicated in the Index, p. 263), there seems to be untapped potential in further entwining it throughout the book. This presents an avenue for consideration in future editions.
Being a perfectionist, I found myself noticing the absence of a discussion on status and power dynamics in this book. Recent research has increasingly recognized that intercultural interactions are not confined to scenarios of equal status or power (Gyamfi and Lee, 2019; Thomson and Gibson, in press). Often, interactions involve individuals from specific cultures who wield a disproportionately higher degree of power compared to their counterparts. Factors like economic development and historical colonization ties can contribute to these imbalances, resulting in unique interaction dynamics (Koppman et al., 2016; Paunova, 2017). It’s worth emphasizing the potential value for future studies in intercultural dynamics, encompassing the thematic domains explored in this book, to explicitly address power dynamics among cultural groups. The integration of power dynamics into the discourse of global fitness could significantly enhance the practical applicability of these frameworks and insights, making them even more relevant and effective in real-world contexts.
In sum, this book is a treasured gem for both managers and scholars, offering a space for reflection, learning, and the nurturing of global “fitness.” This acumen proves indispensable in a world increasingly marked by conflicts and cultural tensions. As global people ourselves, we all stand to benefit from honing our global fitness to foster understanding, cooperation, and a harmonious future across countries and cultures. In this context, I hold deep appreciation for Spencer-Oatey, Franklin and Lazidou’s (2022) book, which introduces novel and valuable perspectives, guiding us toward a path of enlightenment and unity.