Globalisation has had an enormous impact on the way companies conduct business across borders. In the last 20 years, mergers and aquisitions have put great demands on top-level management teams, often operating with different styles and competence within ever shrinking deadlines. This trend has also highlighted the need for successful companies to be culturally sensitive, especially when negotiating. To succeed in these economically challenged times, staff working on foreign assignments need to appreciate the cultural differences and similarities between the clients/colleagues they work with and their own cultural background. Judgement, expectations and priorities vary widely across the globe, as do the interpretation of norms and values. IBI stimulates clients to examine and understand cross cultural issues by using two parallel strategies: - Developing cross cultural strategies - Preparing staff for international roles