INTERCULTURAL MANAGEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS COMPANIES: CHALLENGES AND PREREQUISITES FOR DEVELOPMENT

Keywords: intercultural management, cultural intelligence, іnternational logistics, corporate culture, cross-cultural competence

Abstract

The article examines the role of intercultural management in international logistics companies in the context of globalization, digitalization, and the growing multicultural nature of the business environment. It is substantiated that cultural differences significantly affect the efficiency of coordination, managerial decision-making processes, and the stability of supply chain operations. The key challenges of intercultural interaction are identified, including communication barriers, language asymmetry, differences in management styles, and misalignment of participants’ expectations. It is proven that cultural intelligence is considered a strategic resource that contributes to improving interaction efficiency, reducing coordination risks, and enhancing the resilience of logistics systems. Emphasis is placed on the need to integrate the cultural factor into managerial and digital processes. The study systematizes theoretical approaches to understanding intercultural management in logistics and substantiates the role of cultural alignment as a key condition for effective interaction in global supply chains. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of cultural consistency between participants and its impact on operational performance. It is argued that the effectiveness of coordination in logistics networks depends not only on technological and economic factors, but also on the level of cultural compatibility. The research highlights that insufficient synchronization of cultural and digital transformations may reduce transparency, increase communication distortions, and weaken trust among partners. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of recommendations aimed at improving intercultural interaction, strengthening cultural competencies, and integrating cultural intelligence into management systems to enhance efficiency and resilience of logistics operations. In addition, the importance of developing standardized approaches to assessing cultural alignment and incorporating them into logistics management practices is emphasized, ensuring more sustainable and coordinated interaction between international partners.

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Jiang T. H., Chang Y. C. Cultural Integration for Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Emerging Markets: Framework Development and Empirical Validation Using Public Data. Sustainability. 2025. Vol. 17. No. 18. Article 8363. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188363

Kim S.-T., Lee H.-H., Hwang T. Logistics Integration in the Supply Chain. International Journal of Quality Innovation. 2020. Vol. 6. Article 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40887-020-00039-w

Deckert C., Schomaker R. M. Cultural Tightness–Looseness and National Innovativeness: Impacts of Tolerance and Diversity of Opinion. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 2022. Vol. 11. Article 29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-022-00219-2

Jolly P.-M., Levine T. R., Gelfand M. J. Quantifying Cultural Tightness–Looseness. PLoS ONE. 2021. Vol. 16. No. 1. Article e0246064. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246064

Jackson J. C., Ember C. R., Gelfand M. J. Global Analysis of Cultural Tightness. The Royal Society B. 2020. Vol. 287. No. 1930. Article 20201036. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1036

Sombultawee K., Pholphirul P. COVID-19 and Supply Chain Management: A Review with Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability. 2022. Vol. 14. No. 6. Article 3538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063538

Song H., Zhang D. Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chains. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 2025. Vol. 18. No. 5. Article 284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18050284

Zheng R., Gu B., Yin S., Lai K. K. Supply Chain Management in Times of Supply Disruption Risk and Consumer Panic Buying: A Systematic Review. Mathematics. 2025. Vol. 13. No. 21. Article 3449. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/math13213449

Garro-Abarca V., et al. Virtual Teams in Times of Pandemic: Factors That Influence Performance. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021. Vol. 12. Article 624637. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624637

op ’t Roodt H., et al. Subgroup Formation in Diverse Virtual Teams: The Moderating Role of Identity Leadership. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021. Vol. 12. Article 722650. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.722650

Canestrino R., et al. The Impact of Language Diversity on Knowledge Sharing Within International University Research Teams: Evidence From TED Project. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022. Vol. 13. Article 879154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.879154

Specht A., et al. Managing Linguistic Obstacles in Multidisciplinary, Multinational and Multilingual Teams: A Case From the PARSEC Project. PLoS ONE. 2024. Vol. 19. No. 12. Article e0311967. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311967

Yazıcılar Sola, F. G., & Güzel, D. (2025). The Role of Supply Chain Transparency and Supplier Trust in the Impact of Blockchain Technology Adoption on New Product Development. Sustainability. 2025. Vol.17. No.11. Article 5171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115171

Takkar R., Ghadge A., et al. Extending a Blockchain-Based Traceability Framework to Improve Trust in Supply Chains. Applied Sciences. 2025. Vol. 15. No.15. Article 8226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158226

Cheng J., Xu H., Li Y. Configuring Supply Chain Resilience Under Natural Disasters: SEM and fsQCA Evidence. Sustainability. 2025. Vol.17. No.14. Article 6346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146346

Yu Y., Zhang S., Li X. The Mediating Role of Supply Chain Integration in the Relationship Between Digital Transformation and Supply Chain Resilience. Sustainability. 2025. Vol.17. No.9. Article 3873. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093873

Chen M.-L., Lin C.-P. Assessing the effects of cultural intelligence on team knowledge sharing. Human Resource Management. 2013. Vol. 52. P.675–695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21558

Hou N., et al. Cross-cultural Training Effectiveness. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 2018. Vol. 65. P. 17–29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2018.03.007

LLuu T. T. From Cultural Intelligence to Supply Chain Performance. The International Journal of Logistics Management. 2016. Vol. 27. No. 1. P. 95–121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-01-2014-0009

Shore L. M., et al. Inclusion and Diversity. Journal of Management. 2011. Vol. 37. No. 4. P. 1262–1289. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310385943

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Published
2026-04-23
How to Cite
Ruda, L., & Streletskyi, V. (2026). INTERCULTURAL MANAGEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS COMPANIES: CHALLENGES AND PREREQUISITES FOR DEVELOPMENT. Economy and Society, (84). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2026-84-203