University of Macau Library

Author: Lauring, Jakob
Title: An exploratory investigation of locally constituted challenges to communication management in multinational teams
Journal Name: Euro Asia Journal of Management
Pub. Info: Jun. 2008, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 23-36
Abstract: Abstract : It has been argued that multinational teams create a number of competitive advantages when used strategically. However, multinational teams are not always successful, and a number of studies indicate that communication between team members may be the main obstacle. The purpose of this article is to investigate communication problems in organizations consisting of multinational teams. It is argued that researchers should not only look for differences in national culture when analyzing barriers to the communication flow. Challenges to communication may also develop in the locally constituted organizational culture. This is illustrated by an ethnographic field study in a multinational department of a Danish organization. Paragraph Headings: 1. Introduction 2. Multinational teams and intercultural communication 2.1. National cultural challenges to communication 2.2. The formation of local organizational culture 3. Method 4. Communication in a multinational setting 4.1. Locally constituted barriers to intercultural communication 4.2. Work related communication 5. Discussion and implications