In this specific part of literature review numerous eminent scholars have provided their own point of view on how cross cultural communication in the construction industry has become a major threat for maintaining their brand identity an image. After identifying this particular research issue numerous eminent research scholars have discussed this issue from numerous perspectives. In order to transmit the message to every single participant associated with the construction project the people needs to overcome linguistic barriers. Therefore, this particular part has made an in-depth critical evaluation regarding the cross cultural effect in construction industry from various perspectives.
Thomas & Peterson (2014) stated that cross cultural communicating is the part of study that enables to evaluate on how people belonging to various cultural attitudes should communicate with each other by using various communicational techniques. Large number of business organization is facing difficulties in maintaining effective communication with the organizational members due to their diverse cultures and beliefs. As a result, business process is getting affected severely. However, in order to overcome this kind of situation, the project managers of construction companies have decided to implement cross cultural communication based on which the employees can get the flexibility to share their own point of views. As per the opinion of Gallagher (2013), Trans-global economic development has provided an opportunity to introduce the entire product by utilizing in-depth knowledge in a most cost effective manner. Project managers in order to focus on the quality of construction tend to appoint those employees within the entire process of business who are competent enough towards the service process. As a result, project managers have hired those employees who belong to various geographical cultural backgrounds. Greenfield and Cocking (2014) opined that at the time of working within the team project manager is facing innumerable difficulties in interacting with the team members. Automatically the workflow in dealing with a particular construction project becomes demolished.
Construction project can turn into a major risk due to the lack of active cooperation among the team members as opined by Vaara et al. (2012). Communication can be defined as the systematic method of transforming necessary information between a particular sender and receiver. As per the opinion of Moran, Abramson and Moran (2014), communication form is of two types including effective communication and ineffective communication. If both the sender and the receiver are totally convinced by the interaction and tend to give an effective feedback, the entire process of communication is effective. On the other hand, if the receiver fails to provide an effective response to the sender, the communication process goes in vain. In the current business environment especially in the construction industry communication is highly significant that ultimately enables to provoke the employees towards providing their best performance. Giannetti and Yafeh (2012) commented good communication among the team members enhances the performance rate. People belonging to different geographical boundaries are involved within a single project. Their ethical values, beliefs, psychology differs from one individual to another. Therefore, good communications among the team members are one of the most effective ways to lead the entire project of construction management successfully. As per the point of view of Bian and Forsythe (2012), lack of consultation and inadequate feedback may demolish the systematic rhythmic flow of business.
Linguistic barrier:
Volet and Ang (2012) stated that depending on the geographical boundary the language of employees differs. The project managers while interacting with those employees face difficulties to coordinate with them due to the language barrier. As a result, the flow of entire business process gets affected highly. At the same time, it is undeniable an efficient project manager has to organize meeting or conference in order to run the project successfully. In this specific conference the manager has to use international language for becoming a business professional instead of being dependent on any regional language. In this kind of situation, it has been observed that employees are facing difficulties to interact with the project managers due to the linguistic problem.
Cultural and religious barrier:
As per the ethical values of construction industry the business experts always tend to show flexibility in the hiring policies. Peltokorpi and Froese (2012) opined that people belonging from diverse cultures and religious backgrounds are appointed within the business process of construction industry as per their skills and level of competency. Automatically religious barriers and cultural barriers arise among the employees. Bauer and Matzler (2014) stated that the decision making process and the level of performance is entire dependent on the culture based on which a particular individual belong.
Psychological barrier:
Bochner (2013) stated that project managers belonging to construction industry believe that employees should be involved while making any new business strategy and policy in order to encourage them towards business services. While taking a collective decision regarding meeting the business goal the project managers have faced immense challenges as the opinion varies from one individual to another. Within a business conference business individuals like to provide different opinions. As a result, project managers have to face difficulties to come in a sound conclusion. Schunk and Zimmerman (2012) commented that this particular barrier has become a serious issue in rendering the success of business in the construction industry.
Cultural difference in the current business industry has become a major issue based on which the organizational behavior and discipline in the construction industry is getting highly affected. However, the major impacts of cultural differences in maintaining a construction project are as follows:
Communication:
Based on the cultural differences, the communication mode of every individual associated with the project changes. Fotis, Buhalis and Rossides (2012) stated that large number of employees associated with construction project is not efficient enough in their communication skill and competency. In this kind of situation, employees at the workplace fail to maintain an effective interaction with each other. In this kind of situation customers’ service process is becoming affected. People belonging to different geographical markets due to the lack of proper services show their reluctance in using the service process of organizations.
Workplace etiquette:
Lack of communication, lack of psychological effects and lack of proper decision making skill is highly effective in demolishing the entire workplace etiquette. Employees tend to maintain organizational behavior only when the project managers are successful to control the performance and behavioral approach of the organization. Glatzer (2012) stated that the project managers tend to implement a professional training and development course in order to groom up the skill and competency level of the employees. An effective training on communication skill should be given to the employees so that the team members can share necessary information with each other in order to operate entire operation of construction successfully. Ortega et al. (2012) commented that it is undeniable that collective decision making, good communication among the team members, team co-operation are the necessary factors that helps to maintain workplace etiquette.
Project management:
Kahan et al. (2012) opined that cultural difference highly affects the entire process of project management. While designing a particular project the project managers have to involve all the participants who are directly associated with the project management for making necessary decision. Jedrej and Nuttall (2013) stated that people belonging to different psychological backgrounds tend to show different opinion while making the necessary business strategy and policy. As a result, project managers have to face difficulties to choose the right decision. In this kind of situation, the systematic flow of project management has to face obstacles for running successfully in the market. Cultural difference is having some of the positive effects as well on the project management. Chipulu et al. (2014) stated that the construction industry after appointing the employees from diverse culture has rendered diversity in the products as well as services. As a result, customers belonging to different geographical boundaries have showed their interest in using the products and services.
In order to render equality at the workplace of construction industry the project managers intend to relevant theories and models at the workplace so that the barriers among the cross-cultural people can be avoided. Among some of the most important theories and models the theory of Hofstede’s cultural dimension is highly significant. As per the point of view of Hofstede, culture can be defined in five individual dimensions which have been discussed below:
Power distance:
As per the opinion of Hofstede employees tend to behave at the workplace as per the level of their strength and power. Asante, Miike and Yin (2013) stated that a particular workplace is constituted with major divisions including seniors and juniors. Senior employees always tend to maintain a distance with junior employees in their gesture and expression. As a result, while dealing with a particular project the junior employees get least cooperation from the senior one. In this kind of situation, a distance has been created between seniors and juniors. However, Hofstede in this particular context has pointed out that organizations should maintain cooperation among senior and junior employees in order to conduct the entire project successfully. It is undeniable that junior employees are more advanced in technology than the senior employees are. Therefore, the seniors are having enough scope to receive a technological guidance from the junior one. In this kind of situation, a business organization needs both the senior and junior members. Therefore, they should not maintain a power distance method for running the project successfully in the market.
Uncertainty avoidance:
While working within the project organizational employees have to face numerous uncertain situations that act as major obstacles for dealing with the project successfully. Kinloch and Metge (2014) stated that large numbers of employees are there within a business project who fails to make an effective communication with the team members due to cultural barrier. In this kind of situation, the members fail to exchange necessary information with each other. As a result, customers fail to get the services properly. In this uncertain situation, the project managers have to handle the situation effectively. The employees who are having linguistic barriers needs to take an effective training process for enhancing the communication skill.
Individual vs Collectivism:
As per the point of view of Hofstede, group work along with collective decision making is more significant than the performance of an individual. Ver?i?, Ver?i? and Sriramesh (2012) opined that especially in the construction industry the entire performance of team is more significant than the individual work. Therefore, the people who belong to cross cultural group should be directed and guided in such a way that those individuals get the enthusiasm to work together. It is undeniable that construction project highly needs in maintaining team rapport. De Mooij (2013) opined that exchanging necessary information, communicating interpersonal communication are the major aspects for satisfying the needs and demands of customers. Therefore, the project managers in construction industry have to focus on group work rather than focusing on individual performance.
Masculinity vs Femininity:
Hofstede has depicted that organizations should always maintain gender equality at the workplace. As per the theory of this particular person, both male and female employees should get equal priority and response for handling business responsibility. It has been observed that construction industries tend to focus on hiring male employees primarily. As a result, large number of female employees despite having their skill and ability fail to get proper opportunity to show their talents due to gender biasness. Therefore, the business organizations fail to maintain a balance between male and female employees.
Indulgence vs restraint:
This particular dimension implies that employees while providing service at the workplace should get free space to maintain personal happiness. Rui and Stefanone (2013) commented that the employees would never be able to perform well. On the other hand, the factor of restraint implies that employees should not make the professional environment casual. As per the professional ethics, staffs should not crack mere joke whenever they are involved within a formal conversation. It is undeniable that extreme level of professional environment de-motivates the employees towards providing good services. Employees need to have a flexible work environment from where they can excel their mental skill and ability.
Warren (2017) stated that in order to run their entire business process of construction industry people belonging to diverse culture should get equal priority and response from the project managers. People should be hired as per their skill and level of competency rather than their communication skill. However, after appointing the cross cultural people within the business project, the project managers can follow some of the major strategies and policies for implementing effective communication strategy at the workplace:
Providing effective training and development session:
Pedersen (2013) stated that employees who are having language problem should be given an effective training and development session. By implementing this particular training, employees would be able to enhance their communication skill. As a result, people belonging to different religious and cultural backgrounds would not have to face difficulties in communication with the team members effectively. The project managers in addition would get necessary feedback from those employees regarding their work of progress. The entire rhythmic flow of performance would be increased if the employees belonging to cross cultural backgrounds can overcome language barrier.
Organizing group discussion:
As emphasized by Montano and Kasprzyk (2015), group discussion is the systematic method with the help of which employees can excel their mental horizon by sharing their opinion. In the group discussion session, an individual performer gets the scope to gather collective viewpoints as well. As a result, the employees can enhance their mental skill and competency. However, this particular case the project managers by arranging a group discussion session give the opportunity to every individual staffs equally for evaluating their mental ability. Employee can get the chance to share point of view in this group discussion. On the other hand, based on this particular view, other member expresses different opinion. As a result, every employee can maintain effective interaction with each other. Automatically the flow of communication gets increased than earlier. Therefore, group discussion is one of the most effective ways to gain organizational balance among the people of diverse culture.
Making interpersonal communication:
One of most effective ways of improving cross-cultural communication among the members of intercultural people includes maintaining interpersonal interaction. Neuliep (2014) stated that people belonging to different cultural attitudes and backgrounds have to face difficulties in making an adjustment with the work environment. Therefore, the project managers have to make a face-to-face communication with the employees so that employees can express their problems that they are facing at the workplace.
This particular literature review has provided an in-depth overview about the impact of cross-cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross-cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects. While dealing with this specific topic this particular study has focused to provide detailed analysis regarding the impact of cross-cultural communication in the success of construction industry. In this specific study, detailed analysis has not been given regarding the role of project managers in overcoming cross-cultural effective in maintaining construction project. The study could have been focused in discussing some of the major strategies and policies of improving cross-cultural communication.
The entire study has focused to provide deep insight on the necessary effect of cross-cultural communication and its impact on business. After evaluating the necessary impacts, it has been analyzed that construction industry needs an effective team bonding in order to make the entire project successful. People belonging to different geographical markets are associated with the business process. Therefore, the project managers have to face innumerable difficulties in dealing making effective communication with every team member equally. However, in order to improve cross-cultural communication, the project managers have focused to implement some of the major strategies and policies. The strategies include maintaining interpersonal communication to groom up the personal and professional skill of the employees, providing effective training and development session, engaging the employees towards group discussion and involvement and so on.
Critical evaluation as well as background analysis is not one of the most effective ways of conducting an entire research work successfully. In order to accomplish the entire process of research methodology can be considered as one of the most effective tools. Methodology is one of the most effective procedure based on which a particular research work can be completed by using some important aspects of research process Volet, S. E., & Ang, G. (2012). In this specific study, some of the most effective methodological tools that have been used for conducting the entire research work include as follows:
Collecting necessary data and information randomly can never be the ultimate way of accomplishing the entire process of research effectively. In order to collect necessary data and information regarding the research issue a keen observation on the research study is highly important (Taylor, Bogdan & DeVault, 2015). As per the philosophical belief of the philosophers, observation is repeatable whereas phenomenon is isolated. Therefore, in order to evaluate the research issue properly, a keen observation regarding the variables of research issue has to be made. However, research philosophy is constituted with three major types including interpretivism, realism and positivism. In this specific study, positivism philosophy has been used based on which the entire research work has been conducted systematically.
Positivism philosophy always helps to evaluate data and information by making a repeated observation rather than collecting response from various resources. This particular philosophy believes that before gathering a specific data and using this data within the research paper, an in-depth observation is highly important (Brinkmann, 2014). With the help of this specific philosophical tool, the researchers intend to observe on how the cross-cultural people within the organization are facing innumerable difficulties to cooperate with their team members. However, the philosophy of realism and intterpretivism is not applicable for this particular study. These two kinds of philosophy is very much cost effective as well as time consuming for data evaluation. Therefore, the study has focused to conduct positivism philosophical approach (Maxwell, 2012).
While conducting the entire research an individual has to face a major pathway based on which the necessary data and information can be collected from numerous resources. Research approach is constituted with two major types including deductive approach and inductive approach (Mertens, 2014). In this specific study, the research has focused to use deductive research approach for some of the most effective reasons.
Deductive approach helps to conduct the entire research work based on practical experience and knowledge. Practical knowledge can be gained with the help of repeated observation on the research issue. In this specific study, the researcher by implementing numerous case studies has collected data and information about the research issue. Positivism philosophy is very much effective in evaluating information by using deductive approach (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2015). By conducting numerous case studies regarding the impact of cross-cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects the research has collected data. The cross-cultural effects on the construction project as well as the role of project managers have been observed by conducting those case studies.
Research design is the chronological process to evaluate the research issue from beginning to the end with the help of some of the major designing methods. Research design is constituted with three major categories that include descriptive research design, explanatory research design and exploratory research design (Gioia, Corley and Hamilton, 2013). In this specific study, descriptive research design has been used for accomplishing the entire research work systematically.
Descriptive research design is possessed with some of the major significance. After identifying the research issue, the researchers have to describe the entire variable in order to analyze why cross-cultural communication and its improvement is necessary for construction industry in order to accomplish the entire research work successfully. Exploratory research design is very much restricted in exploring the issue (Green and Thorogood, 2013). The researcher with the help of exploratory and explanatory research design cannot evaluate the data critically on how the research issue leaves a major impact in the current business environment. On the other hand, descriptive research design is very much helpful to conduct the research issue critically by analyzing its several variables.
Data collection is the systematic tools with the help of which necessary data has been gathered from various resources. Data collection procedure is constituted with two major types that include primary source of data collection procedure and secondary source of data collection procedure. Primary source of data collection procedure intends to involve the participants for providing an immediate response (Katz, 2015). On the other hand, secondary source of data collection technique is important for providing collecting data from numerous books, journals, online websites new articles and so many. Primary source of data collection procedure tends to focus on two major factors including qualitative source of data collection by making an effective interview session and qualitative source of data collection technique by involving survey method. However, this particular study has focused to implement qualitative form of data collection technique in order to involve the project managers for providing their necessary response on how they have to face challenges in maintaining cross-cultural effects.
As per the opinion of Mertens (2014), this particular research study needs an effective evaluation on how the project managers tend to implement some of the major cross cultural improvement strategies with the help of which people belonging to different geographical markets can provide their best services. On the other hand, qualitative data collection technique is able to maintain an effective interaction between the sender and the receiver. As a result, the respondents provide immediate response to the customers. This particular form of data collection technique is very mush helpful for both the participants and the data collector for making an effective interaction and immediate feedback. However, in this specific study five senior project managers from construction industry have been selected for collecting necessary data and information.
Sampling technique is the process of evaluating data and information from a large number of populations. Constituted with two major categories sampling technique is of two types including probability sampling technique and non-probability sampling technique. Probability sampling technique is otherwise named as random technique. This particular sampling method enables the data analysts to collect information from the participants randomly. On the other hand, non-probability sampling technique is very much systematic. This particular sampling method is always helpful to give the researcher selective response. As the entire research issue is related to the construction project and the impact of cross cultural communication on the construction project, the researcher has decided to select non-probability sampling technique. This particular method by involving 5 project managers has collected data and information regarding the impact of cross-cultural communication on construction industry.
It has been already mentioned that qualitative data analysis procedure has been selected for this particular study where five project managers have been involved for providing appropriate data and information. Five project managers are the primary focused group based on which ten questions have been formed categorically. The project managers have shared their own opinion regarding the research issue. Data has been collected from numerous perspectives.
In order to accomplish the entire research work some of the ethics and values have to be maintained. The researchers should not force the respondents to provide their response. While collecting the data an individual has to maintain data protection act strictly with the help of which data should not be licked out. On the other hand, while collecting data the analyst should instruct the respondents that feedback should not be biased. The spontaneous response of the project managers regarding the numerous aspects of cross-cultural communication is highly appreciable.
In order to collect necessary data and information regarding the impact of cross cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects qualitative data analysis has been selected by involving 5 project managers from construction industry. By throwing some of the most effective questions an interview session has been conducted for one hour. The questions based on which the interview session has been conducted include as follows:
Question 1: As a senior manager or project manager, have you ever had any difficulties in communicating with your team?
Response:
In response to this particular question one of the senior managers of construction project has stated that this individual has faced immense difficulties in communicating with the team. As per the opinion of this individual, a construction team is constituted with ten employees among whom three employees are from different cultural and religious attitude. In the meeting or hall conference those three members intended to keep themselves aloof from all the activities. They failed to interact with the team manager in order to resolve any issue. In this kind of situation, as a project manager the individual had to face innumerable difficulties to make those people convinced and cooperative towards team performance. As a result, the rate of performance was getting degraded day by day. In this kind of situation, as a project manager the person had struggled to maintain the team performance.
Analysis:
As per the response collected from senior project manager it can be analyzed that the role of a project manager is very much crucial to maintain the entire team performance throughout the year. People belonging to various cultural backgrounds are associated with a construction project. They may have to face difficulties to run their entire business process successfully in the market. Therefore, it is the responsibility of project managers to motivate those cross cultural people towards performing well. The organization of constructions is endowed with large number of people belonging to cross cultures. Therefore, the primary challenges that an individual project manager has to face at the workplace include communication barrier, cultural barrier, religious barrier, psychological barrier and so on.
Question 2: Are you aware of the cross cultural communication strategies as a senior project manager?
Response:
In this particular response the project manager has opinion that cross cultural communication strategy is one of the inseparable parts that every senior manager needs to know for leading an entire team. As per the point of view of this particular individual cross cultural communication is the method of study with the help of which people of different cultural attitudes are engaged to make an effective infarction. A business organization is constituted with several numbers of employees belonging to different attitudes. Their way of communication varies from one single individual to another. Therefore, the employees fail to maintain an effective communication with the team mates. Therefore, in order to manage the situation and to entertain every individual employee equally at the workplace, the project manager has to treat every single employee equally. In order to render cross cultural communication at the workplace, the employees have been provided an effective training as well.
Analysis:
Based on this particular response of this manager it can be found that cross cultural communication is highly effective based on which people belonging to different geographical areas get motivated for performing well towards the business progress and services. In order to run an organization successfully in the market the role of diverse culture at the workplace is highly significant. Employees should be recruited within the workplace as their competency level. Only communication skill is not sufficient enough for a business organization for dealing with the project and customers effectively. Therefore, the project mangers prefer to hire the employees from different cultural backgrounds. However, it is undeniable that people belonging to different geographical cross cultural communication is highly effective that enables every individual team member to participate in the business project equally.
Question 3: Do you feel comfortable in cultural communication strategies as a senior project manager by interacting with people with various backgrounds?
Response:
In this particular question one of the project manager in construction industry stated that the impact of cross cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects has become major significant issue. Large number of business employees is facing innumerable difficulties in making a team rapport due to the presence of cross cultural people. However, as a project manager, this individual has to implement some major strategies and policies based on which employees can be motivated in taking collective decision and maintaining team bonding. Providing an effective training and development course in communication skill is one of the most significant strategies of cultural communication. At the same time, as an efficient manager this specific individual has decided to implement group discussion as well. After organizing an effective group discussion session the employees at the workplace would be able to collect numerous views from different individuals. As a result, the employees are able to enhance their level of skill and competency after receiving views from different individuals.
Analysis:
After evaluating the response of this project manager, it can be concluded that implementation of communication strategy is highly important for maintaining a team rapport within the organization. People belonging to different geographical boundaries are not flexible enough to make an effective conversation with each other due to language barrier as well as psychological barrier. In this kind of situation the project managers should implement some of the most effective strategies and policies based on which employees within the organization would be able to communicate with each other effectively. After receiving a professional training course on communication skill the employees would be able to develop their mode of communication automatically.
Question 4: How does cross culture have influence in the work performance, be it positive or negative?
Response:
In response to this particular question, one of the most recognizable project managers has stated that cross- culture is having both positive as well as negative impact. Cross-cultural people fail to maintain an effective communication with each other due to language barrier as well as cultural and psychological barrier. However, at the same time, the senior manager has opined that the employees among the cross-cultural effect get the scope to learn the values and beliefs of other cultures as well. As a result, their growth of mental skill and ability becomes enhanced. Especially construction industry primarily focuses on hiring skillful employees rather than focusing on their beliefs and cultural backgrounds. The project managers by appointing employees of different cultures within a single project can get more effective response in meeting the business target. Therefore, this particular individual has mentioned that cross cultural communication is having positive impact in improving the performance level of employees as well.
Analysis:
From the response of this specific manager it can be stated that cultural difference at the workplace is highly important to hire talented and skillful employees. It has been observed that large number of employees is there who are having good performance record. Due to the lack of communication skill those employees fail to interact with their team members properly. In this kind of situation, the project managers have to apply strategic management with the help of which both the two missions can be successful. By implementing a professional training and development session the project manager can easily hire skillful employees who are having sufficient knowledge and experience in construction industry. However, as per the response collected from project manager, it can be concluded that cross culture at the workplace is possessed with numerous positive effects along with its negative impact.
Question 5: Are you okay as a senior project manager with taking criticism from your assistant or entry level staff?
Response:
In this specific question, an efficient senior project manager has implied that a person in higher position can never be able to reach the peak of success without being criticized from other seniors or colleague. Before holding the post of a manager, an individual should groom up the employee so that this individual can handle any kind of criticism delightfully. However while sharing own experience this specific person has stated that as a project manager has been criticized for several times due to the lack of patience, presence of mind and so on. Those criticisms helped the manager immensely for developing the mental skill and ability along with experience. Initially, this particular individual while directing the employees of cross-cultural backgrounds intended to lose patience. As a result, employees had to tolerate rude behavior from the project managers. After being criticized immensely the manager has looked into the matter seriously and decided to groom up the employees.
Analysis:
As per the response of the project manager in this particular question, it can be analyzed that a senior manager should not get influenced from a mere criticism. While holding a higher position an efficient manager may have to face innumerable difficulties in dealing with the team members properly. In this kind of situation the managers have to face immense criticisms from other colleagues. By handling all the criticism smartly the manager should direct the employees towards reaching the business goal.
Question 6: What should be the quality of a senior project manager in dealing with cross cultural people?
Response:
In response to this particular question one senior manager has stated that project manager should have flexibility in multilingual skill and competency with the help of which that individual would be able to make an effective conversation with the team members belonging to different cultural backgrounds. At the same time, the manager needs to have proper skill and competency based on which any kind of work pressure can be handled strategically and skillfully. At the same time, the project manager needs to follow participative form of leadership style to maintain a friendly environment within the team.
Analysis:
After getting the response from project manager it can be evaluated that an efficient project manager needs to follow a proper form of leadership style with the help of which the employees do not have to lose their motivational spirit. The managers should never impose their own decision on the employees. In addition, the employees should get a participative cooperation from the managers in order to meet the business target.
Question 7: What kinds of challenges you as a senior project manager have faced while dealing with the project participants efficiently?
Response:
In this specific question, the project manager has opined that this individual had to face innumerable challenges while interacting with the employees belonging to cross-culture. Communication gap became a major issue due to which the individual failed to get a proper response from the employees. As a result, those particular employees could not perform well due to the lack of proper communication. In addition, the cultural and psychological barriers were significant issues due to which project manager failed to make proper decision.
Analysis:
Based on this particular response it can be analyzed that communication gap, psychological gap as well as cultural gap cannot be avoided due to the entrance of cross-culture within the business organization. Despite having these particular gaps project managers should have the capability to run the entire construction project successfully by proving effective training process to the employees.
Question 8: What should be your necessary recommendations to overcome cultural differences?
Response:
In response to this particular question the project manager has opined that cross-cultural people should be provided a proper training on development skill with the help of which they would be able to enhance their communication skill as well as professional skill. People belonging to different geographical markets are associated within a business project. Therefore, the project managers should make an effective interpersonal communication with every individual member. As a result, the employees can share their problems at the workplace.
Analysis:
After observing the response of this project manager it can be concluded that organizations belonging to the construction sector should invest certain amount of money in order to provide an effective training process to the employees. As a result, people from different geographical backgrounds and culture would able to enhance their professional skill and outlook for dealing with the customers effectively.
Question 9: How much is the cross cultural communication effective to overcome cultural barriers at the workplace?
Response:
In response to this particular question one senior manager has stated that cross cultural communication is highly important for making a rapport among the cross cultural people. After implementing this particular strategy the employees having different cultural backgrounds would be able to make an effective interaction with each other.
Analysis:
As per the response of this senior manager it can be evaluated that cross cultural communication is highly needed for a business organization to maintain an effective team rapport with the employees.
Question 10: What should be the business strategies and policies for improving cross cultural communication among the employees?
Response:
In response to this particular question one senior manager has stated that organizing group discussion, attending seminars or conferences, communicating with the people of different geographical boundaries by using verbal as well as non-verbal communication are the necessary ways based on which cross cultural communication can be improved.
Analysis:
As per the response of this senior manager it can be evaluated that rendering improvement in cross cultural communication in the construction industry is highly important. Otherwise, the organization would not be able to place their brand in the international market. Therefore, the project managers by organizing an effective group discussion session can help the employees for reducing their cultural gap. As a result, they would be able to co-operate their team members effectively.
Conclusion:
After evaluating the entire research work it can be concluded that cross cultural communication is the emerging research issue that large number of practitioners have decided to make an in-depth analysis. Eriksson and Kovalainen (2015) stated that a business organization is endowed with the people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Automatically the internal environment of the business organization is highly affected. While taking a business decision the employees tend to show their various psychological views due to which the flow of business gets affected. This particular study has focused to provide an in-depth analysis on how the project managers belonging to construction industry are facing innumerable challenges in maintaining the performance level of employees. As emphasized by Gioia, Corley and Hamilton (2013), the impact of cross-cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects is the primary concern of this particular study. Based on this specific research topic, the study has focused to discuss an in-depth overview about the necessary factors that highly affect the employees in maintaining an effective communication with each other. Among those necessary factors, the impact of cultural, religious barriers, communication gap and geographical locations has been considered as one of the most important issues.
However, in the literature review part, the opinion of some of the eminent scholars has been provided. A critical analysis has been conducted in the literature review part in order to evaluate on how communication leaves a major contribution for making a construction project successful in the market. In order to collect necessary data and information regarding the research issue some of the major tools of methodology have been used among which the name of research philosophy, approach, design, data collection technique and sampling technique is the most prominent. In this specific study, qualitative form of data collection technique has been used by involving five project managers. An effective interview has been conducted for one hour where five senior managers have provided their own opinion regarding various aspects of cross cultural communication. Total ten questions have been thrown to the project managers in order to gather necessary data and information. Based on the ten questions necessary data has been collected in order to know on how the project managers have to face innumerable difficulties for dealing with the employees of cross-cultural backgrounds. Some of the most effective strategies for improving cross cultural communication strategy have also been highlighted in this specific data analysis and discussion part.
After conducting an effective qualitative data collection technique it can be concluded that findings and analysis is one of the major parts of research work with the help of which the entire study can be accomplished successfully. In order to collect necessary data and information the researcher has involved five senior project managers from the construction industry for collecting their own point of view. After evaluating the entire finding and discussion chapter, relevant data and information has been gathered regarding the impact of cross cultural communication and the necessary drivers of improving cross cultural communication strategies amongst construction projects. In this specific chapter five project managers have been involved in order to evaluate data and information. They have been asked ten consecutive questions regarding the various challenges that a project manager has to face at the workplace due to communication barrier as well as cultural differences. In this specific chapter the project managers have also implies on how they have applied necessary strategies and policies for improving the level of cross cultural communication.
Every single research work is possessed with some of the major limitations based on which the researcher has faced difficulties in conducting the entire project successfully. While selecting the research methodological tools, the paper has focused to deal with positivism philosophical approach. As per the perception of positivism philosophy the entire data collection is highly dependent on the repeated observation. On the other hand, post positivism philosophy could help the researcher in providing data based on observation along with keen observation. As a result, the authenticity as well as the reliability of evidence could have been more systematic.
On the other hand, in the data collection technique this particular study has focused to deal with qualitative form of data collection method only. Qualitative data analysis is entire based on the opinion of a particular individual. Therefore, the information that a particular respondent is providing to the data analyst is getting biased response. In order to conduct the entire research work the researcher could have focused on secondary data collection technique as well. With the help of secondary source of data collection procedure necessary information can be gathered from various books, article review, journals and online websites. As a result, the data analysts did not have to wait on the response of the senior project managers only.
Recommendation for future work:
This particular research work has been accomplished systematically by using appropriate methodological as well as data analytical tools. The impact of cross cultural communication in maintaining a construction project successfully in the market is the primary concern of this particular study. However, every research work is not devoid of some of the major drawbacks. This particular research work is not exceptional to that. However, after evaluating the entire study it can be recommended that the study could have focused in discussing the major factors that highly effects in maintaining an effective communication among the people of cultural differences.
At the same time, the project managers have to face immense challenges in dealing with the people of cross-cultural backgrounds. Therefore, by involving the point of view of some of the most eminent scholars the study could have focused in evaluating those major factors that highly affect in maintaining an effective cross-cultural communication. On the other hand, while collecting necessary data and information regarding this particular research issue, only qualitative data collection procedure is not sufficient enough for gathering relevant data. At the same time, survey methods could have been applied for collecting necessary data and information from the employees who are actually facing innumerable difficulties in providing services due to cultural issues.
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