Theoretical Foundations of the Multicultural Systems Approach (MSA): A Meta-Framework for Intercultural Management

The Multicultural Systems Approach (MSA) proposes a shift from viewing culture as a set of static, national traits toward understanding it as a dynamic system of interdependent cultural logics operating within organizations. Building upon general systems theory, intercultural management, and organizational behavior, the MSA conceptualizes multicultural interaction as the negotiation of equilibrium among diverse cultural subsystems, each with distinct assumptions about hierarchy, communication, time, and coordination.Unlike established frameworks such as Hofstede’s dimensions or the GLOBE project, the MSA emphasizes interactional dynamics and feedback loops rather than categorical differences. It accounts for how multicultural teams and institutions co-create hybrid cultural orders, shaping both performance and cohesion. This article introduces the theoretical architecture of MSA, clarifying its axioms, levels of analysis, and principles of Cultural Alignment. By reframing intercultural management through a systemic lens, MSA contributes to theory by explaining how and why multicultural collaboration succeeds or fails—and provides an integrative platform for future empirical research on cultural systems in organizations.