Running head: TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING Transnational Organizations’ Cultural Shift Through Transcultural Communication Generated by E-learning Via the Global Learning Organization (GLO) Model Elodie Sung-Eun Song Supervisor: Dr. Sylvie Grosjean Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.A. in Communication Department of Communication Faculty of Arts University of Ottawa © Elodie Sung-Eun Song, Ottawa, Canada, 2016 TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING Abstract Dynamic networking is a key factor for successful transnational organizations. The transcultural shift is a critical process that can enable cultural hybridization so as to inspire consensual identity and learning aptitude amongst worldwide members. The Global Learning Organization (GLO) model is re-conceptualized to bring about this cultural shift. E-learning seems an appropriate tool to generate effective transcultural communication for both culture and learning perspectives under the GLO model. A qualitative case study using document analysis and interviews is conducted to understand how transcultural communication is generated via e-learning under the GLO model in two fields. Findings reveal that firstly, trust is a core element in generating transcultural communication and the combination of face to face and e-learning can enable trust to be activated and developed. Secondly, the way to build trust varies depending on task characteristics: the detail-oriented tasks require more intense face to face communication than the concept-focused tasks. This study illustrates that design of various mixed learning pattern with strategies to build trust through the affective dimension will be key for the successful GLO. Key words: transnational organization, transculture, transcultural communication, collaborative e-learning, GLO ii TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING Acknowledgements Working on this thesis has been one of my hardest struggles; self-doubt caused me to stumble many times. I felt as if I was standing in the middle of the darkness without any light anywhere. At the end of this long tunnel, I finally found out how lucky I was to be surrounded by hands of help and hope. First of all, I thank my two loving sons, Jeremy and Luc. They were a source of strength that enabled a middle-aged mother to continue studying. I also thank my husband, Guy Fortier, who supported me mentally despite his Parkinson disease. I sincerely thank my parents, who prayed for me every single day on the opposite side of the planet. I would like to express tremendous thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Sylvie Grosjean, who with her insightful vision guided me through the whole process of my thesis; I particularly appreciate her pertinent advice and keen criticism at every stage of my thesis. I also feel very much grateful toward Mr. R. Jackson, who helped me conduct meaningful interviews. I deeply thank all my families and friends in Canada, South Korea, France, and Romania, who encouraged me with their endless love and continuous earnest prayers for me. iii TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING I dedicate this Master’s thesis to my loving God, who always gave me hope in my times of despair and fear. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” – Philippians 4:13 iv TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents v List of Figures & Tables ........................................................................................................ xiii Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Brief History and Background ........................................................................................ 1 The Development of Three Types of Cross-Border Organizations................................. 2 International organizations................................................................................. 2 Multinational organizations ............................................................................... 2 Transnational organizations ............................................................................... 2 Emergent issues of multinational organizations ................................... 3 The emergence of transnational organizations ..................................... 4 The Challenges of Transnational Organizations ............................................................. 7 In terms of culture: fragmentation of identity .................................................... 7 In terms of learning: fragmentation of expertise ................................................ 7 The problematic observed in transnational organizations ................................. 8 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 9 Transnational Organizations ............................................................................................ 9 Characteristics .................................................................................................... 9 Definitions ............................................................................................ 9 The structure of transnational organizations ........................................ 9 The Management and Strategy: goals and examples ......................... 10 Advantages and opportunities .......................................................................... 12 v TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING Challenges and threats ..................................................................................... 12 The Notion of Culture and Learning in Transnational Organizations ........................... 13 The importance of culture in organizations ..................................................... 13 National cultural dimensions: applications and limitations ............................. 14 Description of transnational organizations' new culture .................................. 15 Collaborative learning ...................................................................................... 16 A Multitude of Concepts for Transnational Organizations’ Culture ............................. 17 Transnationalism .............................................................................................. 17 Cosmopolitanism ............................................................................................. 17 Global mindset ................................................................................................. 17 Transculture ..................................................................................................... 18 The observation of notions............................................................................... 19 Transcultural Communication ....................................................................................... 20 The theoretical role of transcultural communication for building transculture and collaborative learning ................................................................................ 20 Creation of a third space ..................................................................... 20 Creating dialogue for negotiation of the sense ................................... 21 The process of construction of new knowledge ................................. 21 The process towards a consensual identity ......................................... 23 Challenges of transcultural communication ..................................................... 24 A tool for multidisciplinary projects encompassing great divergence 24 A tool for managing multi-cultures & languages ............................... 24 A tool for dealing with theoretical and practical framework .............. 25 The role of e-learning in the transcultural communication challenge ............. 25 vi TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION VIA E-LEARNING The relationship between intercultural and transcultural ................... 25 E-learning: definition and characteristics from the intercultural context ............................................................................................................ 28 Assumed advantage of e-learning for transcultural communication .. 28 Predicted challenge of e-learning for transcultural communication ... 30 E-learning under the Global Learning Organization (GLO) model ... 31 Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................................... 31 GLO: A Model for a Globally Inclusive Worldview .................................................... 32 GLO: the reconceptualization of the learning organization ............................. 32 The principal characteristics of GLO ............................................................... 33 The re-conceptualized GLO model .................................................... 33 The role of GLO in transnational organizations ................................. 37 Some examples ................................................................................... 38 The GLO and E-learning ..............................................................................................