Cross-Cultural (mis)Communication in IS Offshoring: Understanding through Conversation Analysis

The offshoring of information systems (IS) work has seen phenomenal growth in the past 5 or more years. This has resulted in IS professionals, interacting with workers from vastly different cultural backgrounds, in order to deliver IS project and support services. This cultural ‘barrier’ has been highlighted in the IS literature as a key challenge for offshoring; however, the attention given to research in the field has in the main been restricted to surveys or interviews, often reliant on reductionist national culture models. Within the fields of linguistics and anthropology, the ethnographic research technique of conversation analysis (CA) has been successfully applied to cross-cultural communications. However, there have been no concerted research efforts to apply CA to IS research in general and to IS offshoring in particular. Our research aims to address that gap by analysing naturally occurring recordings of telephone conferences between offshore vendor staff in India and UK/US employees of a major pharmaceutical company. The research has identified and analysed two important phenomena observed within these communications. Firstly, evidence of asymmetries of participation across cultural divides has been documented, and analysed for underlying causes, such as different attitudes to hierarchy and a lack of shared understanding of expected responses. Secondly, differences in the rhetorical organisation of conversation by participants have also been observed and clearly documented within transcribed specimens of these conversations. These phenomena led to seven findings that are aimed to stimulate further research. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this paper demonstrates how the methodological approach of CA can be applied to IS offshoring research, producing key insights into culturally loaded conversations with clear applications for practice. We hope that this evidence of the potential of CA in IS research will inspire IS researchers to use the approach in other domains as well as in further work in offshoring situations.

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Cross-cultural (Mis)Communication in IS Offshoring: Understanding Through Conversation Analysis

Outsourcing and Offshoring Business Services ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-52651-5_11 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 367-412

Author(s):

David Avison ◽

Peter Banks

Keyword(s):

Conversation Analysis ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Is Offshoring

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Of Frames and Cultures - A Cross-Cultural Comparison of TV Newscasts

Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie ◽

10.1026/1617-6383.18.4.160 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 160-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria Senokozlieva ◽

Oliver Fischer ◽

Gary Bente ◽

Nicole Krämer

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Arab World ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Comparison ◽

Explorative Study ◽

Cross Cultural Comparison ◽

Tv News ◽

The Usa ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. TV news are essentially cultural phenomena. Previous research suggests that the often-overlooked formal and implicit characteristics of newscasts may be systematically related to culture-specific characteristics. Investigating these characteristics by means of a frame-by-frame content analysis is identified as a particularly promising methodological approach. To examine the relationship between culture and selected formal characteristics of newscasts, we present an explorative study that compares material from the USA, the Arab world, and Germany. Results indicate that there are many significant differences, some of which are in line with expectations derived from cultural specifics. Specifically, we argue that the number of persons presented as well as the context in which they are presented can be interpreted as indicators of Individualism/Collectivism. The conclusions underline the validity of the chosen methodological approach, but also demonstrate the need for more comprehensive and theory-driven category schemes.

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When Is Research Cross-Cultural?

PsycCRITIQUES ◽

10.1037/a0021851 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (50) ◽

Author(s):

Lawrence H. Gerstein ◽

Stefanía Ægisdóttir

Keyword(s):

Cross Cultural ◽

Is Research

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A study of ethnic perception gap on consumer boycott of Korean and Canadian University students

Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship ◽

10.1108/apjie-12-2016-009 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 55-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mie Kyung Jae ◽

Hyang Ran Jeon

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Parent Company ◽

Practical Case ◽

Corporate Accountability ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Korean Students ◽

Content Type ◽

Cross Cultural Comparison ◽

Influential Variable

Purpose In this paper, the authors aim to offer a cross-cultural comparison of the boycott intentions of university students in Canada with those of students in Korea. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from students at Inje University and York University via self-administered questionnaire. A t-test found that Canadian students’ answers showed significantly greater scores in ethnocentrism, boycott attitudes prior to reading the target article and motivations related to self-enhancement compared to those acquired from Korean students. However, the motivation of counterarguments and the boycott intentions of Korean students’ toward Rogers, the parent company of Maclean’s magazine, showed significantly higher scores than those gained from Canadian students. Findings The boycott case used in the study is Maclean’s magazine, a Canadian news magazine, which published a controversial article called, “Too Asian? Some frosh don’t want to study at an “Asian” University”. A noticeable gap in each group of students’ boycott attitude and intentions toward Rogers, the parent company of Maclean’s magazine was found. Originality/value In the multiple regression analysis, the boycott motivation of self-enhancement was the most influential variable on boycott intentions. The boycott case examined in this paper is a practical case study of cross-national grouping as well as the perceptional difference of the locus of corporate accountability that comes from cross-cultural backgrounds.

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Textual Voices in Corporate Reporting: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Chinese, Italian, and American CSR Reports

International Journal of Business Communication ◽

10.1177/2329488418784690 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 173-197 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marina Bondi ◽

Danni Yu

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Cultural Analysis ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Social Actor ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Corporate Reporting ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Chinese And English ◽

Different Sources

This article investigates direct quotations in a corpus of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports in Italian, Chinese, and English. The corpus is composed of 60 CSR reports published by Italian, Chinese, and American companies in the banking and energy sector. The study aims at exploring what types of textual voices are involved in the discourse of CSR reporting and how different sources of voices are represented, using the framework of social actor representation proposed by Van Leeuwen. The results show that the voices presented in direct quotations are often “orchestrated” by companies into “symphony” rather than “polyphony.” Most of the sources of direct quotations are represented as individuals with specified names. The comparative analysis shows that companies from different cultural backgrounds present different preferences in selecting and representing the various sources. The Italian and American CSR reports present more voices from managers, while the Chinese CSR reports show a clearer preference for voices from employees and clients.

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A Contrastive Analysis of Chinese Humor and English Humor in Intercultural Communication

Theory and Practice in Language Studies ◽

10.17507/tpls.0912.17 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1595

Author(s):

Sha Zhu

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Communication ◽

Contrastive Analysis ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Cross Cultural Communication ◽

Transcultural Communication ◽

Figure Of Speech ◽

English Speaking ◽

Chinese And English

Humor plays an important role in daily life and also quite useful in interpersonal communication. Nowadays, the cross-cultural communication between the English-speaking countries and China becomes more and more frequent while some humor is difficult to appreciate with diverse cultural backgrounds. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing the Chinese and English humor from their similarities, like the use of ambiguity and figure of speech, as well as differences, especially in functions, topics and ways of expression. Related causes are further discussed the differences. Hopefully, the findings will help to reduce the obstacles in understanding humor in different culture and promote transcultural communication in a delightful manner.

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Learning Disabilities of Legal Trainees- Pre-Admission Tests and Students’ Performance- Case Study of ZCAS University

International Journal of Human Resource Studies ◽

10.5296/ijhrs.v11i2.18502 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Douglas Rolls ◽

Kwesi Atta Sakyi ◽

Geoffrey K. Mweshi

Keyword(s):

Learning Disabilities ◽

Learning Styles ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Poor Performance ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Interactive Instruction ◽

Admission Tests ◽

Underlying Causes ◽

The University

Even though students with eidetic or photographic memories are naturally found in universities, it is not necessary that all the students be of the same super endowment. However, in the university setting, we need students who have stability in all faculties so that the learning process is maximised through constructive and interactive instruction. Issues in education can neither be divorced from the fact-value dichotomy nor from the nature-nurture imperatives that affect and determine educational outcomes. In this regard, neither can some issues escape some element of subjectivity nor others be strictly measured and assessed by scientific strictures. The objective of this paper is to examine some of the learning disabilities among our law students at ZCAS University, and how these affect their academic performance. We settled on this topic after noting that some of our students do not perform well because of many learning disabilities which could be hidden from our view and which should have been diagnosed during the pre-admission period; and also diagnosed through pre-admission tests. Our objective was to establish some of the underlying causes of their poor performance during tests and final year examinations. In this paper, we theoretically explore learning disabilities related to mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the well-being of our students. The research took the form of administering questionnaires to the relevant students through purposive sampling. With regard to the methodological approach, we adopted an exploratory approach by using descriptive, quantitative and analytical qualitative methods such as content and thematic analysis. We found out that some students came to the university not because they had academic strength and aptitude in the field of law but because they could afford to pay for the programme. We also found out that some of the students admitted to the university had poor learning styles and habits such as spending too much time online with friends. Furthermore, it came to light that some lecturers did not deliver lectures to suit the learning styles and preferences of students. Our findings were not conclusive enough as similar tests have to be carried out in future in different places to validate and corroborate our findings.

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Cross-Cultural Learning and Intercultural Competence

Human Resources Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-1601-1.ch046 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 753-768

Author(s):

Pi-Chi Han

Keyword(s):

Adult Learning ◽

Intercultural Competence ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Learning Theories ◽

Cultural Learning ◽

International Assignments ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

National Boundaries ◽

Adult Learning And Development ◽

Hrd Professionals

Globalization has increased the need to understand the nature of work-related adult learning and development across national boundaries. It is driving the demand for the workforce that possesses knowledge of other countries and cultures and affecting those who are responsible for developing international learning activities. The author of this chapter calls for adult education and Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals to learn how to apply adult learning theories in cross-cultural learning to help individuals with different cultural backgrounds. This would help these professionals acquire intercultural competence and become successful in international assignments.

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Overview

Disability, Stigma, and Children's Developing Selves ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190844868.003.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 3-20

Author(s):

Misa Kayama ◽

Wendy L. Haight ◽

May-Lee Ku ◽

Minhae Cho ◽

Hee Yun Lee

Keyword(s):

Cultural Psychology ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Developmental Model ◽

School Age Children ◽

Elementary School Age ◽

Cross Cultural Study ◽

The Common

Chapter 1 introduces a cross-cultural study of the common and culturally nuanced perspectives of experienced educators from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S. on how they support the development of elementary school–age children exposed to stigmatization associated with disabilities. The authors present a cultural developmental model of disability and stigmatization focusing on children’s emerging cultural selves. They also describe the theoretical perspective guiding their inquiry, developmental cultural psychology, including the concept of universalism without uniformity. Next, the chapter presents the book’s methodological approach, which is cross-cultural and includes the deliberate integration of insider and outsider perspectives on cultural contexts and disability. Finally, the authors provide an overview and roadmap to the book.

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