Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management, Second Edition

Abstract

This chapter provides a look at organizational learning through the lens of intercultural communication. Since the organizational learning research seldom considers the impact of intercultural communication, we have written a conceptual piece based on reviews of both literatures and our own experience with global organizations. The chapter begins by first examining the role of communication in organizational learning. Next, we introduce the basic concepts of intercultural communication. We identify those aspects of intercultural communication that most directly affect knowledge transfer: marginality, stereotypes, style differences, linguistic ability, cosmopolitanism, satisficing, cultural intelligence, and intercultural sensitivity. We explore the relationship between stages of intercultural sensitivity and the readiness to learn, focusing on the trigger events that can move people and organizations to higher levels of sensitivity. Finally, we describe and discuss the practical implications that an understanding of intercultural communication has for organizational learning and the questions that need to be addressed by future research.