Towards a unified framework of intercultural communication competence: A multidisciplinary approach

This thesis examines the relationship between intercultural communication competence (ICC) and team effectiveness in multicultural teams. Effective ICC is critical for multicultural teams to achieve high levels of efficiency and effectiveness in a hyper-competitive, complex, and dynamic environment. In recent years, scholarly interest in ICC has grown exponentially. However, studies on ICC across disciplines are severely fragmented; specifically, there is a dearth of studies in the area of multicultural project teams. The field of ICC struggles with inconsistencies and challenges. There is a lack of clarity in the definition of ICC across disciplines, and many existing ICC models are overly abstract, theoretical, and lack empirical validation. Furthermore, robust scales and tools to measure ICC accurately are in short supply. This study advances a holistic understanding of ICC by theoretically proposing and empirically validating a unified model for ICC in multicultural teams. A systems perspective is employed to transcend disciplinary silos and ensure a more holistic and unified approach. To do this, a systematic review of 85 peer-reviewed articles published between 1976 and 2021 was conducted. This analysis presents an understanding of prior work focusing on the evolution of the concept and the emerging trends, a synthesis of the definitions, models and frameworks, and an analysis of the characteristics and components of ICC. Findings from this analysis informed the development of a model for ICC. This model integrates antecedents, consequences and mediating mechanisms for empirical investigation and validation in the context of multicultural project teams. It was validated by employing partial least squared structured equation model analysis (PLS-SEM) using data from 323 experienced industry professionals. The key findings of this study indicate significant relationships between factors such as Active Listening, Acknowledge, Recommend, and Negotiate, and ICC. These factors influence ICC in various ways, with some effects being mediated by Empathy or Attitude Towards Other Cultures (ATOC). Crucially, the study demonstrates that ICC has a direct positive impact on Team Effectiveness. It thereby underscores the importance of fostering positive attitudes towards other cultures, empathy, active listening, and effective negotiation strategies to enhance intercultural communication competence and team performance. The unified model and the new scale developed to measure ICC and team effectiveness represent significant contributions, offering validated and reliable tools for future research and practical application.

Publisher

University of Galway

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

cbn

Collections

University of Galway Theses (PhD Theses)