Globalisation has made international competition far more intense than it was twenty years ago. It is no longer enough for firms to solely do business in their own countries. An expanded European Union will make competition even more intense, and with it the need for understanding of other national and organisational business cultures will also increase.

Companies of all sizes usually respond to globalisation by seeking cross-border co-operation through strategic partnerships or mergers. These arrangements very often create communication difficulties, which can ultimately lead to failure of the venture. With financial costs of failure often very high, the more inestimable human cost is even higher.

Instead of offering more generalised 'solutions', TransCulture addresses these issues by looking at each client's specific business situations in isolation. We propose a suitable course of action and emphasise that it should not be seen as a 'cure-all' solution. With this philosophy underpinning our approach, we are able to provide the following consulting services:

Strategic Cultural Auditing - Our UK based partner, Cultural Fluency, has developed a Strategic Cultural Audit Tool (SCAT), which can be used to measure an organisation's culture in relation to national culture and overall business strategy. It is especially useful for companies undergoing business transformation and change management processes, and for companies considering international mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures. Further details of SCAT can be found on www.cultural-fluency.com

Cultural Briefings - This is especially useful for managers who are about to begin long-term international assignments. We can provide in-depth briefings on cultural norms and values which can be expected in most Eastern European countries. It is also possible to arrange briefings in local languages for CEE managers involved in project work in Western Europe or the USA.

Technical Translation - EU accession will see increasing demand for highly accurate translation of technical documents in areas such as law, medicine and engineering. We are currently developing a network of technically-qualified translators and proof-readers throughout the CEE region who are able to produce high-quality documents in local languages.