In Intercultural Business Communication and Simulation and Gaming Methodology,

serve up an interesting set of articles on intercultural business communication (IBC). It is important to assume, from the very beginning, that IBC is a complex disciplinary endeavour, as many studies in the last fifty years have clearly highlighted. Thus, Hall (1959 & 1966), Hofstede (1980 & 1983), Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (1997) or Schwartz (1999) have pointed out fairly different perspectives that should be considered while analysing communication. In fact, we cannot avoid studying intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, or national perspectives in order to understand the way someone can communicate within a business framework. It is important to analyse how anyone can improve his/her competence in order to communicate effectively in a business-based environment. Some years ago Bargiela-Chiappini and Nickerson (2003) stated that interculturality should play an important role in order to communicate effectively in business settings. Thus, the fundamental constructs of communication involve an array of well-established and highly developed fields of enquiry. There are many approaches, theories and methodologies that tend to overlap. Among those methodologies which can help us improve our communicative competence in business settings is the simulation and gaming methodology, a target of this book as well. The volume is divided into three main sections: an introductory section “explaining intercultural communication”, comprising three different chapters. The second section, devoted to “applied linguistic research on intercultural business communication”, is clearly the longest one, being formed by seven contributions. Finally, the third section, “simulation and gaming methodology as a vehicle for communicative competence in intercultural business settings”, comprises three different texts