The Impact of Intercultural Communication on the Success of French Offshoring Projects to India

Diploma Thesis , 2007 , 114 Pages , Grade: 1,7

Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance

Today, communication between different cultures becomes more and more necessary due to (1) economic changes such as globalisation, (2) political changes i.e. the formation of international communities, or problems which do not care about borders, and thus problem solving cannot either, and (3) changes in personal lifestyle.

But communication is already a complex process for members of the same culture. In interaction with different cultures, it is even more difficult to establish the true intention of the sender of a message. Misunderstandings and communication breakdowns are part of intercultural business reality. Difficulties can arise through language barriers, misinterpretation of verbal and non-verbal behaviour or different shared values and experiences. Other reasons for communication difficulties are ethnocentrism, stereotypes and prejudices.

This thesis provides an insight in the challenge of offshoring French IT projects to India. First, it gives an overview of outsourcing and offshoring, including advantages and disadvantages. Second, it presents India as an IT nation and offshore location. Afterwards, it describes the current state of global offshoring, with a special focus on developments in France.

In the following chapters, it explains culture, its phenomenon such as ethnocentrism, stereotypes and cultural layers as well as the culture’s impact on business. Moreover, this thesis analyses the communication between French and Indian nationals. It begins with describing the communication process including the phases of an offshoring project and communication interfaces. Subsequently, verbal and non-verbal elements of communication across cultures are explained. Additionally, the influence of cultural values on communication between Indian and French nationals is demonstrated.

In the end, after having discussed communication problems according to the first-hand research, the thesis tries to provide the reader with solutions to major problems such as creating cultural awareness, employee development and preparation for assignments abroad, using feedback systems and offshoring according to the dual shore model.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• ABSTRACT
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
• TABLE OF FIGURES
• 1 INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1 GLOBALISATION
  • 1.2 PROBLEM
  • 1.3 OBJECTIVES
  • 1.4 BACKGROUND-WHY CHOOSING THIS TOPIC
• 2 METHODOLOGY
  • 2.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
  • 2.2 RESEARCH APPROACH
  • 2.3 DATA COLLECTION
    • 2.3.1 Secondary Data
    • 2.3.2 Primary Data
  • 2.4 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH
  • 2.5 CHAPTER OUTLINE
• 3 OUTSOURCING AND OFFSHORING
  • 3.1 INTRODUCTION TO OUTSOURCING AND OFFSHORING
    • 3.1.1 Definitions
    • 3.1.2 Forms of Outsourcing
    • 3.1.3 Forms of Offshoring
    • 3.1.4 Motives, Potentials, Risks
  • 3.2 INDIA-IT NATION AND OFFSHORE LOCATION
    • 3.2.1 Country Profile
    • 3.2.2 Development of the IT Industry
    • 3.2.3 Current State of the Offshoring Industry
    • 3.2.4 Key Factors of the Indian Success
    • 3.2.5 Major Indian IT Players
    • 3.2.6 Future Developments
  • 3.3 CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN OFFSHORING
    • 3.3.1 World
    • 3.3.2 Europe
    • 3.3.3 France
  • 3.4 CONCLUSION - KEY FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL OFFSHORING PROJECTS
• 4 CULTURE
  • 4.1 DEFINITIONS OF CULTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON BUSINESS
  • 4.2 PROBLEMATICS OF MISUNDERSTANDING
    • 4.2.1 Ethnocentrism
    • 4.2.2 Stereotypes
    • 4.2.3 Layers of Culture
  • 4.3 CONCLUSION
• 5 COMMUNICATION
  • 5.1 THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS
    • 5.1.1 Phases of an Offshoring Project
    • 5.1.2 Process and Communication Interfaces
    • 5.1.3 The Elements of a Message
  • 5.2 VERBAL COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES
    • 5.2.1 The Link between Language and Culture
    • 5.2.2 Communication Style and Tone of Voice
    • 5.2.3 The Need for Linguistic Proficiency
    • 5.2.4 The Notion of Feedback
  • 5.3 NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES
    • 5.3.1 Body Language and Eye Contact
    • 5.3.2 Feelings and Emotions

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to investigate the impact of intercultural communication on the success of French offshoring projects to India. It explores the challenges of managing projects across cultures, focusing on communication barriers, cultural differences, and strategies to overcome them. The thesis provides an overview of offshoring, the Indian IT landscape, and the current state of global offshoring, particularly in France.

• The impact of intercultural communication on project success in offshoring contexts
• The role of cultural values and norms in shaping communication styles and practices
• The challenges and opportunities associated with offshoring IT projects to India
• Strategies for effective communication and collaboration across cultures
• The importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in global business operations

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The thesis begins by providing a comprehensive overview of outsourcing and offshoring, outlining its advantages and disadvantages. It then focuses on India's role as a leading IT nation and offshore location, highlighting its growth, key factors, and major players. The thesis examines the global offshoring landscape, including Europe and France, highlighting the current state and future trends.

The following chapters delve into the intricacies of culture and its influence on business. The thesis explores ethnocentrism, stereotypes, and cultural layers, emphasizing their role in shaping communication. It then focuses on the communication process, outlining the stages of an offshoring project, the communication interfaces, and the elements of a message.

The thesis further analyzes verbal and non-verbal communication across cultures, highlighting the link between language and culture, communication styles, and the need for linguistic proficiency. It examines body language, eye contact, and the expression of emotions in intercultural settings.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The thesis primarily focuses on intercultural communication, offshoring, IT projects, India, France, cultural differences, communication barriers, ethnocentrism, stereotypes, project management, global business, and cultural awareness.

• College: Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (Wirtschaft 2 - IBIS)
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Alexandra Klank (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 114
• Catalog Number: V143758
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640520046
• ISBN (Book): 9783640520879
• Language: English
• Tags: communication, intercultural, crosscultural, off-shoring, outsourcing, france, india, cultural differences, Kulturunterschiede, kulturelle kompetenz, Kommunikation, Frankreich, Indien