The purpose of the present thesis is to examine if and to which extent cultures converge in an international business environment and if intercultural competence has a bearing on it. Therefore, theoretical and practical insights in the subject of culture, its implicit and explicit differences, as well as its measurements will be provided. Due to the fact that communication - as a major cultural attribute - is the most obvious level on which cultural differences are recognized, insights in the topic of cross-cultural and intercultural communication will be given. A thorough discussion of the concept of culture and communication is beyond the scope of this paper, but in what follows, an adequate overview of recognized and well-known researchers’ theories and findings will be provided. Besides giving theoretical background knowledge, it will be examined whether the internationally defined soft skills of intercultural competence can be seen as an approach towards a universal interculture, likewise a universal communication. The topic of the present thesis will be illustrated by a case study, as well as researched and evaluated by a field study conducted at one of the most culturally diverse organization - the United Nations. Findings should only expose tendencies to confirm or disprove previous research findings in the field of cross-cultural comparative research and intercultural communication. It is not intended to present new empirical findings.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Purpose of the Present Thesis
1.2 Structure of the Present Thesis
2 Case Study
3 Culture and its Implications
3.1 Definition of Culture
3.2 Cross-Cultural Comparative Research Theories
3.3 Cross-Cultural Comparative Research Studies
3.3.1 Hofstede
3.3.2 Trompenaar & Hampden-Turner
3.3.3 Lane, DiStefano & Maznevski
3.3.4 The GLOBE Research Project
3.4 The Cultural Orientation Framework
4 Communication and its Implications
4.1 Definition of Communication
4.2 Concepts of Communication
4.3 Levels of Communication
4.3.1 Verbal Communication
4.3.2 Non-verbal Communication
4.4 Cultural Dimensions and Communication Patterns
5 Hypotheses
6 Research Methodology
6.1 Research Approach
6.2 Research Design
6.2.1 Research Sample Selection
6.2.2 Research Data Collection
6.3 Strengths and Limitations of Research Methodology
7 Analysis
7.1 Analysis 1 - Acculturation
7.1.1 Theoretical Background
7.1.2 Evaluation of Empirical Findings
7.1.3 Conclusion
7.2 Analysis 2 - Convergence in Communication
7.2.1 Theoretical Background
7.2.2 Evaluation of Empirical Findings
7.2.3 Conclusion
7.3 Analysis 3 - Intercultural Competence
7.3.1 Theoretical Background
7.3.2 Evaluation of Empirical Findings
7.3.3 Conclusion
7.4 Conclusion and Discussion of Analysis
8 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Scope
This thesis investigates the extent to which cultures converge within an international business environment and explores the role of intercultural competence in this process. The central research question examines whether soft skills in intercultural competence can facilitate a universal business communication style and culture among an international workforce, using a case study of the United Nations Internship Office.
- The intersection of culture, communication patterns, and business environments.
- Theoretical evaluation of cross-cultural research frameworks and communication models.
- Empirical analysis of acculturation, convergence in communication, and intercultural competence.
- Application of the Cultural Orientation Framework to global business contexts.
- Assessment of intercultural competence as a potential driver for cultural convergence.
Excerpt from the Book
2 Case Study
In what follows, the topic of the present thesis will be illustrated by a case study of four cultural diverse students interning at the United Nations Internship Office for duration of six month. The development of a new Online Application System and a new Data Warehouse, assigned to the four interns, requires not only team spirit but also intercultural competence.
Monday morning - 9:30 A.M.
The United Nations Headquarters, New York; Conference Room S 2513
Susan Watson, Chief of Human Resources Management and Anne Koslowsky, Internship Co-ordinator, had scheduled a meeting with seven of their colleagues - four interns and three IT specialists - to put them in charge of developing the most recent administrative innovation in the United Nations Internship Office - an Online Application System and a new Data Warehouse.
The three IT specialists to whom programming of the software has been assigned are early and take their seats in one corner of the room. Just when Susan Watson starts wondering when interns - the actual prospective users of the new software - became less zealous than IT ‘nerds’, the door opens, and Julia Abdulgani enters the conference room. Having taken all her, admittedly superficial, information from Anne Koslowsky, the supervisor of the four young fellows, Susan Watson is surprised at how much of an Asian you can actually get when you have been told to expect a Dutch woman. Anne Koslowsky has hardly finished introducing her when Jens Eisenberg enters the room and chimes in to relieve Anne Koslowsky of the task of presenting him to the others. With a slight but unmistakable American attitude and an impressively well tied cravat, he introduces himself as Jens from Germany. Waiting behind him is Apu Narendra Reddy Katkuri, who seems to lack of talkativeness or, Susan Watson thinks, is simply using all his concentration on the coordination of a permanent affirmative nod and sniffing his snot.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides the problem statement regarding global business expansion and the resulting demand for intercultural competence, defining the thesis purpose and structure.
2 Case Study: Introduces a field study of four interns at the United Nations Internship Office to illustrate the practical challenges of cultural diversity in international teamwork.
3 Culture and its Implications: Defines culture and reviews major cross-cultural theories and research studies, including the Cultural Orientation Framework.
4 Communication and its Implications: Analyzes communication as a variable influenced by culture, covering both verbal and non-verbal levels and the link between communication patterns and cultural dimensions.
5 Hypotheses: Formulates the main hypothesis that intercultural competence drives cultural and communication convergence in international environments, supported by three sub-hypotheses.
6 Research Methodology: Details the research design, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including sample selection and data collection through various questionnaires.
7 Analysis: Evaluates empirical findings against theoretical models regarding acculturation, convergence in communication, and intercultural competence.
8 Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis findings, confirming that while cultural values remain distinct, a unique shared communication style often emerges among diverse international teams.
Keywords
Cross-Cultural Business Communication, Intercultural Competence, Cultural Convergence, Acculturation, United Nations Internship Office, Communication Patterns, GLOBE Research Project, Cultural Orientation Framework, Verbal Communication, Non-verbal Communication, Hofstede, Business Culture, Intercultural Mindset, Diversity Management, International Workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores whether international employees converge toward a shared, "universal" communication style and business culture when working in diverse environments, despite their individual cultural backgrounds.
What are the central thematic fields?
The core themes include the definition and measurement of culture, communication patterns in international business, the role of intercultural competence, and the process of acculturation within global organizations.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to examine if and to what extent cultures converge in an international business environment and if intercultural competence is the underlying driver of this convergence.
Which research methodology is applied?
The research uses a mixed-methods approach, combining participative observation with quantitative data collected via various questionnaires (Alpha, Beta, and Gamma) distributed to interns and supervisors at the United Nations.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections provide a theoretical background on culture and communication, a review of cross-cultural research studies (e.g., Hofstede, GLOBE), and a detailed case study and analysis of empirical data.
What are the defining keywords of the work?
Key terms include Cross-Cultural Business Communication, Intercultural Competence, Cultural Convergence, Acculturation, and Communication Patterns.
How does the case study illustrate the theory?
The case study of the United Nations Internship Office provides a real-world setting where four interns from different nations must collaborate, demonstrating how cultural differences initially impact communication before they develop a shared working style.
What conclusion is drawn regarding cultural identity?
The author concludes that while members of an international workforce develop a unique, shared communication style, they do not necessarily "lose" their national cultural identity; rather, they establish a common business "interculture" on top of their existing values.
- Quote paper
- Sven Rosenhauer (Author), 2007, Cross-Cultural Business Communication, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119450
