Multicultural Teamwork Research Articles

Crafting Language for Culinary Excellence: Customizing ESP Content to Align with Student and Industry Needs

The alignment of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) materials with the needs of students and the culinary industry is crucial for preparing graduates to excel in the competitive fields of tourism and hospitality. In particular, essential English language skills such as culinary terminology, effective communication in professional kitchen environments, and writing recipes or menus in English should be addressed more in existing curricula. This study aimed to assess the relevance and practicality of current ESP materials within the context of culinary education at an Indonesian university. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the research involved 40 second-semester students who had completed a course in Professional English, along with 11 waitstaff from hotels and restaurants in West and North Sumatra. The findings revealed significant gaps in the current materials, particularly in areas critical for international customer service and multicultural teamwork, such as food presentation, customer interaction, and sanitation practices. The study concludes that English learning materials must be tailored to meet the general needs of English learners and the specialized demands of the culinary industry. Incorporating relevant terminology, practical communication skills and industry-specific content is essential for better preparing students for professional roles in catering and hospitality. The research suggests that focused classroom techniques on communication and specialized vocabulary can guide educators in developing more effective ESP materials for the culinary field.

Towards a more balanced treatment of culture in international business using an ethnographic design: a multinational family business case study

PurposeThe negative cultural bias vis-à-vis international business and cross-cultural management has been duly acknowledged, necessitating recommendations towards investigating its positive effects. Methodologically, quantitative research clearly predominates, and there have been calls for alternative approaches. Thus, this conceptual paper addresses the research gap (methodological and thematic) by investigating if multicultural teams can be an essential part of the global workforce and whether positive effects exist regarding dynamic capabilities, learning and knowledge transfer.Design/methodology/approachThe underlying ethnographic research design enabled exploring within the embedded single case study from an emic perspective, including qualitative observation and semi-structured expert interviews, and provided detailed insights into the company’s multicultural work environment.FindingsThe results reveal that applying a qualitative design allowed the needed exploration and show that multicultural, geographically dispersed teams are positively experienced and considered necessary in today’s globalised world. They are likely to increase in the future. Moreover, dynamic capabilities (multicultural competencies) are indispensable for multicultural teamwork. Regarding learning opportunities, different viewpoints for discussion and the ability to reflect on these offer valuable insights. In line with theory, multiculturality is considered a “two-edged sword”, providing simultaneous benefits and challenges. Contrary to the theory, even highly important information transfers can occur virtually, although occasional physical contact is essential for trust building.Originality/valueThe multinational family business offers a unique example of a positive relationship between multiculturalism and organisational excellence and demonstrates how the application of a qualitative methodology can support theory building by delivering a revised model of dynamic capabilities in multicultural environments with geographical dispersion.

Zero Tolerance to Plagiarism in Multicultural Teamwork: Challenges for English-Speaking non-EU and EU Academics

The paper discusses scientific communication and notes that the primary means is through scientific literature, which serves as a vessel for circulating knowledge and information about the world around us. However, in today's post-academic scientific landscape, where the number of publications in international databases is the main yardstick for assessing the productivity of scientists, research, and educational institutions, the issue of plagiarism in scientific communications has become increasingly relevant. It's worth noting that scientific articles are recognized as the primary form of communication, while other types of scientific publications such as monographs, abstracts in collections, and conference proceedings, which constitute a significant portion of modern scientific communication, are often overlooked. It has been shown that in Ukraine and EU countries where scientists from different nationalities and cultures participate, the objective isn't to eradicate plagiarism as a deviation from morality and law, but rather to significantly decrease its prevalence in science and higher education by addressing the factors that contribute to it. The most immediate consequence of plagiarism is the inundation of outdated scientific information with articles that imitate scientific activity, making it challenging to discover genuinely novel scientific information even with the assistance of the internet. Plagiarism also devalues the significance of scientific publications, complicates the identification of truly valuable publications, and violates the ethical and legal norms of scientific activity and scientific communication.

The Quest for Sustainable Teaching Praxis: Opportunities and Challenges of Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Teamwork

This article investigates the prospect of implementing multidisciplinary and multicultural student teamwork (MMT), along with Case-based Learning (CBL) and Problem-based Learning (PBL), as a sustainable teaching practice. Based on a mixed-method approach, which includes direct observation (both physical and virtual), questionnaire distribution, and focus groups, the study reveals that MMT through CBL and PBL can both facilitate and hinder sustainable learning. Our findings show that while MMT enhances knowledge sharing, it also poses a wide range of challenges, raising questions about its social significance as a sustainable teaching practice. The study suggests the implementation of certain mechanisms, such as ‘Teamwork Training’ and ‘Pedagogical Mentors’, aiming to strengthen the sustainable orientation of MMT through CBL and PBL.

Cultural Value Diversity: Influence towards Multicultural Teamwork Performance among Restaurant Employees

Malaysia currently has a diverse workforce, relying on foreign workers in the hospitality industry. This study tested a conceptual model to investigate the role of specific cultural diversity value in influencing multicultural teamwork performance. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted in casual ethnic restaurants in Malaysia. The findings revealed that the three diversity dimensions of collectivism, determinism, and orientation each had distinctive effects on productivity and/or cooperation. This study offers new insights on cultural value diversity and multicultural teamwork performance at a dimensional level thus provides rigid answer for the argument from previous scholars. In addition, by providing the current phenomena in workforce industry, this study helps the restaurant managers to prepare with strategic management on handling diversity among multicultural team.

Application of coaching in intercultural learning processes

The highly dynamic nature of the EU labor market increases the complexity and diversity of European social structures. Organizations and commercial enterprises are faced with the growing challenge of successfully shaping multicultural teamwork. Intercultural learning in everyday business life is gaining in importance. Coaching is used to support managers in professionalizing their leadership work. In teams, coaching is used as a pedagogical intervention in team development and team conflict resolution to support intercultural learning processes in a targeted manner. The concepts have been developed from practical application; the scientific foundation is still in its infancy.

THE EFFECT OF COLLECTIVISM DIVERSITY TOWARDS MULTICULTURAL TEAMWORK PERFORMANCE AMONG RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES

Diversity is now an important factor that impacted workforce performance. Currently, as having a diverse workforce, Malaysia is depending heavily on foreign workers in the hospitality industry. This study examined a conceptual model investigating the effect of diversity particularly collectivism in influencing multicultural teamwork performance. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted in casual ethnic restaurants in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The findings disclosed that collectivism diversity had a significant influence on multicultural teamwork performance. This study is the first to assess cultural value diversity particularly collectivism value on teamwork performance. This study verified that cultural value diversity increases multicultural teamwork performance in the restaurant context in relation to collectivism. The significant results deepen our understandings of the detailed relationships among the variables. In addition, by providing the current phenomena in workforce industry, this study provides insights to the restaurant managers in handling diversity among multicultural employees.

Effects of Multicultural Teamwork on Individual Procrastination

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discover usage differences in task performance by students of different cultures, by examining procrastination patterns from a national cultural perspective and exploring the effect of multicultural virtual teamwork on students’ individual procrastination. Background: This study aims to examine higher-education entrepreneurial learning in the context of multicultural virtual teamwork, as performed during participation on a Global Entrepreneurship course. Methodology: The methodology consists of quantitative comparative data analytics preceding and subsequent to intercultural team activities. This research is based on analyses of objective data collected by Moodle, the LMS used in the In2It project, in its built-in log system from the Global Entrepreneurship course website, which offers students diverse entities of information and tasks. In the examined course, there were 177 participants, from three different countries: United Kingdom, France and Israel. The students were grouped into 40 multicultural virtual (not face-to-face) teams, each one comprised of participants from at least two countries. The primary methodology of this study is analytics of the extracted data, which was transferred into Excel for cleaning purposes and then to SPSS for analysis. Contribution: This study aims to discover the effects of multicultural teamwork on individual procrastination while comparing the differences between cultures, as there are only a few studies exploring this relation. The uniqueness of this study is using and analyzing actual data of student procrastination from logs, whereas other studies of procrastination in multicultural student teams have measured perceived procrastination, collected using surveys. Findings: The results show statistical differences between countries in procrastination of individual assignments before team working: students from UK were the most procrastinators and Israeli students were the least procrastinators, but almost all students procrastinated. However, the outcome of the teamwork was submitted almost without procrastination. Moreover, procrastination in individual assignments performed after finishing the multicultural teamwork dramatically decreased to 10% of the students’ prior individual procrastination. Recommendations for Practitioners: The results from this study, namely, the decline of the procrastination after the multicultural virtual teamwork, can be used by global firms with employees all over the world, working in virtual multicultural teams. Such firms do not need to avoid multicultural teams, working virtually, as they can benefit from this kind of collaboration. Recommendation for Researchers: These results can be also beneficial for academic researchers from different cultures and countries, working together in virtual multicultural teams. Impact on Society: Understanding the positive effect of virtual multicultural teamwork, in mitigating the negative tendency of students from diverse cultures to procrastinate, as concluded in this study, can provide a useful tool for higher education or businesses to mitigate procrastination in teamwork processes. It can also be used as an experiential learning tool for improving task performance and teamwork process. Future Research: The relation between procrastination and motivation should be further examined in relation to multicultural virtual teams. Further research is needed to explore the effect of multicultural virtual teamwork during the teamwork process, and the reasoning for this effect.

Culture and International Volunteerism: an Analytic Study of Intercultural Interactions between UK and Ghanaian Volunteers on the International Citizen Service (ICS) Program

The article explores the intersection of UK and Ghanaian volunteers’ intercultural interactions in multicultural teamwork under international volunteerism context. Situating the study within the cultural dynamic framework and adopting a case study qualitative research design, the study revealed that culture is created by the actors based on the interactions and context. Furthermore, elements of cultural diversity such as diversity of thought and cross-cultural sensitivities were revealed to be enablers of effective cross-cultural communication and not as barriers or impediments to effective interactions. Misconceived sexual orientations and lack of cultural neutrality in decision-making process also characterised their cultural constructions. In view of this, the study recommends that open-mindedness and willingness to modify ethnocentric dispositions as well as exhibition of cultural sensitivities and moderation of opinions in international assignments will greatly enhance intercultural interactions among multicultural teams and foster successful work outcomes in international volunteering service.

Learning Entrepreneurship through Virtual Multicultural Teamwork

Aim/Purpose: This paper explores the benefits and challenges of experiencing virtual multi-cultural teamwork in order to learn entrepreneurship. Background: Entrepreneurial eco-system usually requires working in international, virtual multi-cultural diverse teams. Higher education institutes are trying to educate future generation of entrepreneurs, coping with challenges derived from the virtual work and cultural diversity. Prior research shows that traditional learning is not effective for entrepreneurial education. Methodology: An explorative study was conducted based on the BIPA project, a Bavarian (German)-Israeli Partnership Accelerator, which was held four times between 2015 and 2017. The project aims to experience entrepreneurial virtual multicul-tural teamwork via co-creation of tailored-solutions for challenges of German or Israeli corporates. Retrospective interviews with participants were held after finishing their mission, and analyzed. Contribution: This research contributes to the body of knowledge about multicultural diverse participants in virtual entrepreneurial environments, in order to work together. This situation raises new challenges, due to the combination of multicultural teamwork and the use of virtual communication. Findings: The multicultural teamwork was a trigger to participate, specifically in the con-text of entrepreneurship studies with those two cultures, German and Israeli, which were found by participants as complementary, stimulating and fruitful, although challenging. Through experience, participants improved their entrepreneurial skills and mindset. The major teamwork challenges that were found included conflicts concerning free-riding, as well as communication challenges, due to virtual, language and cultural communication competencies. Recommendations for Practitioners: At a practical level, results can be useful for global companies, showing the benefits of virtual teamwork of employees in different locations, both in terms of reducing expenses and improving innovation. Moreover, managers can motivate employees by highlighting personal benefits, such as cultural awareness and improving their entrepreneurial skills and mindset. In addition, faculty may use this kind of experience to enhance entrepreneurial learning skills and mindset. Recommendations for Researchers : At the theoretical level, this research advances the body of knowledge of entrepreneurial multicultural teamwork in a virtual environment. In this research, the teams worked for a short time together (14 weeks) and had a week of face-to-face interaction with their team members. It is recommended to examine long-term teamwork, and how it affects teamwork challenges, as well as entrepreneurial learning. This research found the combination of German-Israeli cultures as stimulating entrepreneurial teamwork. It is recommended to examine other cultural combinations in teams, in order to be able to generalize findings. Impact on Society: Understanding the needs, benefits, and challenges of entrepreneurial multicul-tural teams working in a virtual environment can be useful to current global entrepreneurial eco-system, which is commonly using this kind of teamwork. Future Research: ‎This study included teams from two cultures: German and Israeli. Research must be expanded to different cultures and to groups compounded from more than two cultures. Moreover, the combination of virtual communication and face-to-face meetings in different milestones during the timeline of the teamwork must be further examined, especially in longer projects.

Using Action Research as the Basis for Transforming a Workplace Culture so that Integration of Overseas Registered Nurses to the Nursing Home Clinical Setting be more Adaptive, Inclusive and Mutually Supportive

Research question: How to integrate overseas registered nurses into the clinical setting of a nursing home in Norway? Research problem: Newly arrived overseas registered nurses experience difficulties adjusting to the clinical setting in one of the institutions for old people in Norway. Purpose: The purpose of the study shall be to develop a basic knowledge that will stimulate and improve competence in multicultural nursing in the clinical area. It will help develop research studies in nursing education and practice in relation to working conditions in a multi-cultural teamwork. Theory: Multicultural nursing is a part of nursing that appreciates and accepts person/s` culture, not in the sense of approving all aspects of those cultures, but learning and understanding how a given culture can express care values, illness, health and behavior of its own members [1].Method: Qualitative research with a hermeneutical perspective is used. Action research [2] is the chosen method for this research due to its collaborative, reflective and evolutionary process of bringing about change. To ensure the effectiveness and trustworthiness of the study, focus group discussions and critical reflections are used. The data analysis is done through the hermeneutical approach according to level of interpretation. Ethical considerations: Respondents received information about the research and other related matters in which the respondents are to participate. Ethical principles about confidentiality, anonymity and voluntary consent strictly observed. Permission granted from the head of the county where the nursing home is located. Results: Results reveal that diversity issues such as in communication, different educational background, attitudes, values and cultural expectations, power dynamics and social avoidance and rejection are the underlying challenges of overseas registered nurses in adjusting to the Norwegian clinical setting. Implications: Findings imply that the institution needs to provide a working climate that will promote professional and social integration to both the Norwegian registered nurses and overseas registered nurses.

Differences of Diversity Attitudes between Employees with and without an Immigration Background: The Case of Germany

The demographic shift in the age structure has the effects that many ageing employees work in organisations. Migration can slow down the ageing of population but could not stop it. More and more people with immigration background work in organisations. Therefore, the question is, whether diversity sensitive attitudes count for all diversity aspects. The central aim of the study is to deal with the problem fields of multicultural teamwork. Thereby, the focus is on the collaboration of employees with and without immigration background. The interviews with employees with and without an immigra-tion background of various company branches were conducted. The results show that employees with an immigration background have more contact and feel comfortable with persons from different cultures than employees without an immigration back-ground. The qualitative analysis indicates that there is a high need of competence devel-opment, especially intercultural and social competences in organisations. The results of the study reveal that personality traits and characteristics of employees play a role to what extent they accept diversity and are willing to work with persons from another culture. Age is not important regarding intercultural competence development.

“Cool my doubt is erased”: constructive disagreement and creating a psychologically safe space in multicultural student teamwork

AbstractThis paper investigates the roles of disagreement and trust in multicultural teamwork on an English-medium master’s programme at an Austrian business university. The teamwork project – assigned by the content teacher – took place mostly outside the classroom and simulated business practice both in terms of the tasks and the multicultural context. Each team comprised two Austrian students and two international students, resulting in an English as a lingua franca (ELF) setting. The teams were observed and audio-/video-recorded, with the analysis focusing on an early stage of the project where they laid the groundwork for the team mental models in terms of establishing the team goals, relationships and communicative practices. Additionally, retrospective interviews were conducted at the end of the project with each of the team members and the lecturer to gain emic insights into the project. The findings suggest a symbiotic relationship between disagreement and trust, in which high levels of trust and the construction of a psychologically safe space allow the team members to disagree with and challenge each other without damaging their relationships, leading to better decisions. In turn, these decisions can contribute to a sense of shared success that strengthens the team’s joint identity.

The Impact of Perceived Foreign Language Proficiency on Hybrid Team Culture

This study examines the impact of perceived foreign language proficiency on hybrid culture building in multicultural teams. Hybrid culture includes a mutually shared set of norms, communication patterns, problem-solving approaches, and synergistic task coordination that result from the diverse cultural backgrounds of the team members. Language is the main vehicle for communication and plays a major role in social interaction and therefore hybrid culture building. We argue that the level of perceived language proficiency of multicultural team members influences hybrid culture building; consequently, adequate language skills lead not only to an efficient task solution but are also an important factor in creating interpersonal relationships and building a shared culture. Our empirical analysis supports the positive influence of language proficiency in hybrid teams; however, foreign language proficiency is more influential on cognitively oriented areas of multicultural teamwork than on affective ones.

Attitudes towards Collaboration in Multicultural Teams in the opinion of Polish and Chinese Students

Abstract The main goal of this paper is to present results of research that addresses the issue of attitudes towards working in both multicultural and single culture teams among Polish and Chinese students. The relationship between those attitudes and factors that includes individual experiences of research participants as well as characteristics of team tasks was analyzed. The research was conducted with students of one Polish and one Chinese technical university as participants. Research findings indicate that there are several important similarities as well as differences in preferences of two analyzed groups. The most important differences pertain to stronger preference of Polish students towards working in a single-culture team when the task requires assuming responsibility, trust and mutual understanding of team members. Additionally, the declared level of experience in single-culture and multicultural team was differently related with preferences towards these two kinds of team among Polish and Chinese participants. Obtained results may be utilized in order to develop recommendations for effective educational efforts aimed at developing multicultural teamwork competencies of future managers and specialists from both of these countries.

MULTI-CULTURAL TEAMS AS SOURCES FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: THE ROLE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON TEAM PERFORMANCE

Multi-cultural teams are seen as a wellspring of creativity and innovativeness. Yet, we still miss an in-depth study of their potential and challenges during the innovation process in firms. This is a serious omission as many international firms are in need of improving their global innovation position by the inclusion of insights from team members of different nationalities with knowledge about markets and culture. To derive first insights, we conducted a longitudinal qualitative study in a large global company with 70 personal interviews in five innovation teams over a period of two years. These data, based on semi-structured interviews, provide us with rich information about effects of cultural diversity in teams in the innovation process. Data were analysed through a thematic network analysis and two coders inductively forming categories. Results indicate that cross-cultural teams have a high potential of creativity, but are confronted with difficulties arising from different working- and communication styles which have to be proactively managed from the beginning. While progressing, teams learn to cope with this diversity related to some more surface-level cultural dimensions and members even align. Yet, diversity of power distance induces conflicts that deeply impact the innovation process. Based on these findings, we develop a set of propositions, which lead into a conceptual model on the effects of multi-cultural team work on creativity and innovation. Finally, we discuss further implications for research and practice.

A contemporary team process management model to enhance multicultural and multidisciplinary virtual team performance

This paper aims to reveal experiences gained from multicultural and multidisciplinary virtual collaborative teamwork within projects sponsored by the EU. The members of the consortium, often unknown to each other, comprise a variety of experts of diverse cultural, organisational, and professional backgrounds. Within the project lifetime they are connected together with time and money constraints for a specific period of time to accomplish certain distinctive objectives. A conceptual team process management TPM model was developed to support teams and increase performance. The ultimate outcome the TPM model helped in overcoming apparent complexities and contradictions due to the structure the model provides.

Hybrid Culture Building and Foreign Language Proficiency - Do These Constructs Interact?

We study the impact of perceived foreign language proficiency on hybrid culture building in multicultural teams. Language tends to be the main vehicle for communication. We argue that the level of perceived language proficiency of multicultural team members influences hybrid culture building; consequently, adequate language skills lead not only to an efficient task solution, but are also an important factor on creating interpersonal relationships. The empirical analysis confirms the positive influence; however, the effect is smaller than assumed. It is salient that foreign language proficiency seems to be more influential on cognitively-oriented areas of multicultural teamwork than on affective ones.

Exploring teamwork paradoxes challenging 21st-century cross-cultural conflict management in a multicultural organizational context

This paper focuses on cross-cultural conflict and its management in a multicultural work environment affected by teamwork paradoxes, as perceived and experienced by multicultural team members working in project and management teams. A mixed research methodology was applied, using a quantitative confirmation of teamwork paradoxes in multicultural organizational environments, followed by a qualitative interpretivist approach exploring the perceived and felt cross-cultural conflicts and its management within the teamwork paradox context. Eight multicultural teamwork paradoxes were confirmed by 107 respondents to a survey questionnaire. Next, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 33 participants exploring cross-cultural conflict and its management within the eight identified teamwork paradoxes. The qualitative thematic data analysis provided insightful information on cross-cultural conflict management in multicultural team paradoxes relevant to project and management teams in a multicultural South African context. The multicultural team paradoxes and their managerial implications are explained in terms of cross-cultural conflict management on multiple levels.

Ranking the future global manager characteristics and knowledge requirements according to UAE business managers' opinions

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to rank the importance of global manager characteristics according to the views of private and public leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, it will establish the most important and in demand managerial knowledge for UAE managers over the next five years.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted using a two‐part questionnaire developed by the researchers. The purpose of the 52‐item questionnaire is to assess managers' ability to work in an international business environment. The sample includes 180 managers, from different public and private organizations in the UAE. Based on prior research, the characteristics examined include the following: communication skills, adaptability, open‐mindedness to foreign environments, strong technical skills, stress management, ability to work well with others, social intelligence, and valuing diversity and multicultural teamwork. Factor analysis is used to analyze the importance of these global leader characteristics.FindingsThe study found that the sample of UAE managers feel the top five global manager skills are: strong desire to go overseas, specific knowledge of overseas culture, the ability to adapt to time differences, the capacity to deal with expatriate work assignments, and overseas experience. In terms of the future, computer skills, communication skills, knowledge of worldwide networks and contacts, knowledge of home culture, and the ability to understand cultural dynamics are the most important skills.Originality/valueThe results will help in defining the major characteristics of future global managers in the UAE and the Gulf Corporation Council region.