In the last decade, as the nature global economics compels more organizations to expand internationally, the importance of communication, in terms of cultural intelligence, has emerged as a main driver of effective supply chain relationships which increase the efficiency of operations by facilitating collaboration and trust. However, as international trade becomes more complex and the cost of conducting transactions increases, the importance of communication is being reframed in terms of the power of language. Studies show that “time spent communicating equals money, and time ill-spent increases transaction costs” (Selmier & Oh, 2012). As organizational members increasing are forced to interact across linguistic boundaries, the establishment of a lingua franca for global business as a means of counteracting complexities through the creation of group cohesiveness is being embraced by a growing number of multinational corporations. Studies show that mandating English as a corporate lingua franca contributes to the efficiency of business transactions in similar fashion to EDI (electronic data interchange) systems. English is the most widely used and recognizable language in the world. It is spoken at a useful level by more than 1.75 billion people worldwide (Neely, 2012). The use of a common language when conducting business transactions has been shown to promote trust and facilitate process efficiencies that lead to reductions in transaction costs.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- A Review of the Literature
- Englishnization: Lingua Franca for Global Business
- Impact on Transaction Costs
- English Management Communication
- Group Involvement
- Group Conflict
- Group Trust
- English’s Natural Selection as Lingua Franca
- Demand for Language Strategies
- Adoption Framework
- Improving Belief in Capacity
- Improving Employee Buy-in
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the concept of Englishnization, the adoption of English as a corporate lingua franca, and its impact on global business. The author analyzes the reasons behind the growing trend of English-only policies in multinational corporations, particularly focusing on the influence of language on transaction costs, group cohesiveness, and organizational performance.- The impact of Englishnization on transaction costs in global business.
- The relationship between English language management and group cohesiveness, including group involvement, conflict, and trust.
- The natural selection of English as a lingua franca due to its widespread use and ease of learning.
- The demand for language strategies across various institutions, including multinational corporations, governments, and regulatory agencies.
- A framework for implementing successful English-language policies, considering employee buy-in and belief in their capacity to learn the language.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Abstract: This section introduces the concept of Englishnization and its relevance in global business. It highlights the importance of communication, cultural intelligence, and the role of language in reducing transaction costs and facilitating collaboration.
- A Review of the Literature: This chapter summarizes existing research on the impact of language on international trade and organizational management. It introduces the concept of language intensity and examines studies on the influence of English management communication on group cohesiveness.
- Englishnization: Lingua Franca for Global Business: This chapter delves into the significance of communication in global business, particularly in relation to foreign markets, cultural diversity, and language as a factor in reducing transaction costs. It also discusses the concept of language intensity and its relationship to the complexity of international business.
- Impact on Transaction Costs: This chapter examines the impact of language on transaction costs in international trade. It analyzes the concept of linguistic distance and how it influences the complexity of cross-border operations, highlighting the importance of language management strategies in mitigating these costs.
- English Management Communication: This chapter discusses the role of English as a standardized language in multinational organizations. It explores the potential benefits and challenges of English-only mandates, including the impact on employee morale, confidence, and group cohesiveness.
- Group Involvement, Group Conflict, and Group Trust: These sub-sections examine the influence of language diversity and communication frequency on group cohesiveness. It presents hypotheses about the positive association of English language consistency with group trust and involvement, and the negative association with group conflict.
- English’s Natural Selection as Lingua Franca: This chapter provides insights into the reasons behind the global adoption of English as a lingua franca. It analyzes the language’s historical growth, its ease of learning, and its adaptability to diverse cultural contexts.
- Demand for Language Strategies: This chapter explores the widespread adoption of language strategies across various institutions, including multinational corporations, governments, and regulatory agencies. It provides examples of English-only policies implemented by organizations like Rakuten and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), highlighting the strategic and practical reasons for such mandates.
- Adoption Framework: This chapter presents a framework for successfully implementing language strategies, focusing on employee buy-in and belief in their capacity to learn the language. It outlines strategies to improve employee confidence and promote positive attitudes toward language change initiatives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper explores the crucial role of language in global business, focusing on the adoption of English as a corporate lingua franca, known as Englishnization. Key concepts include transaction costs, language intensity, group cohesiveness, language management strategies, and cultural intelligence. It examines the benefits and challenges of English-only mandates in multinational corporations, with a focus on employee buy-in, language proficiency, and the natural selection of English as a global language.- Quote paper
- Ricky Dartez (Author), 2013, Englishnization. Lingua Franca for Global Business, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215240
