Language as a lightning rod: Power contests, emotion regulation, and subgroup dynamics in global teams

Based on an ethnographic study comprising interviews with and observations of 96 globally distributed members of six software development teams, we propose a model that captures how asymmetries in language fluency contribute to an us vs them dynamic common in global teams. Faultlines, formed along t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of international business studies 2014-06, Vol.45 (5), p.536-561
Main Authors:	Hinds, Pamela J, Neeley, Tsedal B, Cramton, Catherine Durnell
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Business and Management Business communications Business Strategy/Leadership Business studies Code switching Collaboration Demography Emotional expression Emotions Empathy Geodetic position Group analysis Group dynamics Identity International Business International organizations Language Language fluency Lightning Lingua franca Management Multiculturalism & pluralism Multinational corporations Multinational enterprises Observational research Organization Power Public relations Saliency Software Software industry Studies Teams Theory U.S.A Western Europe
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Summary:	Based on an ethnographic study comprising interviews with and observations of 96 globally distributed members of six software development teams, we propose a model that captures how asymmetries in language fluency contribute to an us vs them dynamic common in global teams. Faultlines, formed along the dimensions of asymmetries in lingua franca fluency, location, and nationality of team members, were associated with subgrouping in some but not all of the teams. Our findings suggest that divisive subgroup dynamics occurred only in teams that also suffered from power contests, suggesting that power contests activate otherwise dormant faultlines. Our findings extend theory on subgroup dynamics in global teams by adding language as a potential faultline dimension, showing how power struggles activated faultlines and were, in turn, reinforced by them and documenting the emotion-regulation processes triggered by subgrouping and enacted through language-related choices and behaviors.
ISSN:	0047-2506 1478-6990