Cross-cultural research in a cross-border region: verbal and non verbal professional communication. The case of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Abstract

In this study, the cultures of the five border subregions of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) were measured and compared by means of a survey research. The results indicate that the subregions differ most in terms of the (in)formal way of their business interactions. Furthermore, discrepancies were found for the cultural dimensions ‘externalism-internalism’, ‘masculinity-femininity’ and ‘monochonism-polychronism’. The results, and more specifically the observed cultural differences, allowed a first exploration of possible effects on professional verbal and non-verbal business communication. This study also shows the importance of cultural research at sub-regional level.