The missing link: Culture and language barriers to interoperability

Interoperability is key to ensuring that a global supply chain operates as seamlessly as a vertically integrated organization. Much research has been accomplished and is on-going related to the technical, organizational and scientific issues concerning interoperating dissimilar enterprise systems and languages. However, there are significant issues concerning interoperating information across the barriers of cultures and national languages. This paper presents the key drawbacks regarding the cultural and language barriers to true exchange of knowledge. The paper then presents an example enterprise model in light of these identified issues.