Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Psychology, Industrial and Organizational
Date of Defense
9-10-2018
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Ekin Pellegrini
Committee
Dr. Wolfgang Althof
Dr. Stephanie Merritt
Dr. John Meriac
Abstract
Previous research supports what employees intuitively sense: peers make the place (Chiaburu & Harrison, 2008; Schneider, 1987). Extant research suggests coworker relationships have critical influence on outcomes ranging from turnover (Felps, Mitchell, Hekman, Lee, Holtom, & Harman, 2009) to creativity (Homan, Buengeler, Eckhoff, van Ginkel, & Voelpel, 2015) to organizational commitment (Viswesvaran & Ones, 2002) to employee health and well-being (Heaphy & Dutton, 2008). Despite the increase of Intercultural COworker Relationships (ICORs), particularly in multinational firms in the technology industry, research has yet to examine what defines coworker relationship quality in the presence of national cultural differences. In other words, how do employees define and experience relationship quality in ICORs? How do employees behave to facilitate relationship quality in ICORs? The present study sought to address these theoretically and practically important questions using a mixed methods design, with an emphasis on the qualitative data collected via grounded theory methodology. Findings reveal consistencies and important differences compared to monocultural coworker relationships. The current study offers a theoretical framework to conceptualize the development of ICOR quality. The importance of understanding how relationship quality is defined and facilitated in organizations with nationally diverse populations is discussed, both in terms of theoretical and practical implications.
OCLC Number
1105931492
Recommended Citation
Morton, Jennifer L., "Intercultural Coworker Relationships (ICORs) in the Global Workplace: A Grounded Theory Study" (2018). Dissertations. 801.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/801
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