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Culture has a lot of dimensions, Popular writers, for instance, GeertHofstede (1980, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1995), a dutch Psychologist, who

was working for IBM, collected data on IBM's operations in 70countries, with over 116,000 questionnaires (Rugman and Collins,2006) has isolated four (Later five) dimensions of culture.

Power distance the acceptance of the unequal distribution ofphysical and intelligent capabilities within a society will determinethe level of power distance.

Uncertainty avoidance As the name supposes it is the extent towhich an organization will go to avoid uncertainty. this culture isreflected in the workers attitude to job security, retirement benefits,etc.

Individualism/collectivism Individualism is the tendency ofpeople to look after themselves and their immediate family only(Rugman and Collins 2006: 135)

Masculinity / Femininity A societal or organizational valuetowards assertiveness and materialism determines the masculinity orfemininity of the culture.

Long term orientation Hofstede and Micheal Bond and hisassociates (Chinese cultural connections) used an innovativetechnique to add this framework (Luo, 2004). A group of Chinesesocialists named 10 basic and fundamental value, and this was usedto produce a list of 40 values that was used in a survey of 22countries.

In Nov 2006, Jeanne Brett, Kristin Behfar and Mary C. Kern, writingin the Harvard Business Review, highlighted the challenges managersface with multicultural teams. They categorized four challenges:

Direct versus indirect communication Different cultureshave different ways of communicating, the westerners are direct incommunication and their opinion is known to be clear. Non-

westerners would prefer to speak indirectly and politely pass theiropinion across through inferences and not outright renditions

Trouble with accent and fluency This problem is similar with

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all multicultural gathering, one will feel very out of place whenmeeting with a group of Indians and a joke is cracked in Hindi andeveryone laughs, save you, and your Indian friend that invited you,translates the joke, and every one looks at you as you try to grin to the'cultural joke' that is only funny in Hindi

Deferring attitude towards hierarchy and authority Insome cultures team members are seen to be equal while others musthave a leader. if dealing with a team that has a leader a team memberfrom a equal culture will feel underestimated. And if in a flat team anhierarchical member exists, he will feel that the team is not being heldup.

Conflicting norms for decision making An example was givenof an American company negotiating to buy Korean products afterdiscussing 3 points on the first day the American company(accustomed to quick decision making) felt point four will begin thenext day. the Koreans asked that the initial 3 points be discussedagain. negotiating with teams could pose a challenge, in somecultures negotiating are done the hard way (China) but others believein subtle decisions (France).