Challenges in leading cross-cultural teams

Abstract

Leading cross-cultural teams can be different compared to a team with all members being from a similar cultural background. Differences appear in conflict resolution, methods of resolving conflicts and how easy is it to have a positive outcome from the conflict. Communication affects the way team members understand each other and how different ways of communication are understood. Both conflict and communication can result from differences in cultures. This research aims to see the differences in 2 cross-cultural teams with a similar background and area of expertise with also in mind of seeing the theories compared to practise. The frame of the study consist first of introduction and literature review. Literature includes introduction to cross cultural team creation and mainly on culture, conflict and communication. The chosen research method was qualitative, with data gathered by interviews from team members of two different cross-cultural teams with a similar background of operations. Research supported that the cross-cultural team diversity may lead to more issues than in homogenous teams. Cross-cultural teams are seen as an asset but research results show that culturally diverse teams require more awareness and time to manage.