Global Value Chains, Intercultural Competence and Educational Games

This paper addresses chances and needs to integrate educational games in Information Management Systems of global value chains in the Extended Enterprise. With the development of global value chains misunderstandings due to different cultural habits and rules are an issue. Studies show that lack of intercultural competence results in enormous losses and frictions in negotiations, sales and customer relationships. Consequently training seminars on intercultural issues are considered as mandatory for prospective managers. Despite the merits of such training seminars general training will not be sufficient to solve the challenges of intercultural management. What we also need are complementary Information systems, which not only provide proper information transfer, but also contextual awareness on cultural differences and ambiguities. The paper discusses different models and theories from psychology, organisational-anthropology and communication-management to justify the necessity of an enhanced understanding. Based on this a draft proposal for a system design is made to support improved intercultural learning and communication in global supply chains.