Collaboration for the common good
An examination of challenges and adjustment processes in multicultural collaborations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12167393 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rebekah Dibble (University of San Francisco San Francisco CA U.S.A., corresponding author), Cristina B Gibson (0000-0002-1655-7351, The University of Western Australia), Cristina Gibson (University of Western Australia Perth Australia) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 764-790 |
| Publication date | 2013-06-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Organizational Behavior (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0894-3796 • E-ISSN: 1099-1379 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/job.1872 |
| OpenAlex | W1529407989 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 42 |
Multicultural collaborations are temporary entities that are not embedded in a single organizational context but yet complete tasks such as building a house or making a film with the involvement of people from multiple cultures. Although they share characteristics of multicultural teams, they lack many of the mechanisms that teams embedded in organizations have at the ready to enable navigation of key challenges. Not much is known about how they cope. Using an inductive approach, this study addresses four critical questions with respect to multicultural collaborations. First, we sought to identify the most common challenges that multicultural collaborations face. Second, we wanted to understand how multicultural collaborations react to those challenges. Third, we examined the role of collaboration heterogeneity in the adjustment process. Finally, we wanted to know whether adjustment facilitates collaboration performance. We examined these issues using comprehensive field data from 16 multicultural humanitarian home‐building collaborations that ranged in their degree of cultural heterogeneity. Our analysis highlights many important aspects of multicultural collaborative work. First, adjustment processes were critical in coping with their lack of organizational embeddedness. Second, collaborations utilize a range of both internal and external strategies for adjusting. Third, when collaborations experience challenges related to the way members work with each other, cultural differences may contribute to the ability to make important adjustments. Finally, when significant challenges existed, adjustment processes were related to performance in multicultural collaborations, yet overadjustment was detrimental, suggesting the importance of careful calibration of adjustment strategies to the magnitude and nature of challenges that exist. Our findings have implications for theories of team processes and culture, as well as practical implications for working across cultures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Context (archaeology · Coping (psychology · Embeddedness · Face (sociological concept · Industrial and organizational psychology · Knowledge management · Multiculturalism · Pedagogy · Political science · Process (computing · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Work (physics · Computer Science · Conflict Management and Negotiation · Engineering · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Psychology · Social Psychology · Team Dynamics and Performance
Basic Content Analysis
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Sensemaking and sensegiving in strategic change initiation
Linking two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to firm performance
Qualitative Research and the Academy of Management Journal
Cultural Diversity's Impact on Interaction Process and Performance
Gaffers, Gofers, and Grips
Shared Leadership in Teams
Building Theories from Case Study Research
Working papers in the theory of action
Content Analysis for the Social Sciences and Humanities
A Contingency Model of Leadership Effectiveness
Cultural Diversity at Work
Cultural Diversity and Its Impact on Social Interactive Processes
Antecedents, consequences, and moderators of time perspective heterogeneity for knowledge management in MNO teams
Diversity and team outcomes
Improving Pregnancy Outcome during Imprisonment
Critical Incidents in Communicating Culture to Newcomers
Organization and Management in the Embrace of Government
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| Citations per year | 0.31 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2013 - 2025 (13) |
| Highly cited | No |