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Multicultural R&D team operations in high-tech SMEs: Role of team task environment and individual team members’ personal experiences

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  • Arslan, Ahmad
  • Haapanen, Lauri
  • Ahokangas, Petri
  • Naughton, Sean

Abstract

This paper analyzes how team task environment and individual team members’ personal experiences influence multicultural research and development (R&D) team operations in small and medium sized enterprises. Based on qualitative data from multiple R&D team operations in five Finnish software firms, the findings revealed that team task environment is significantly influenced by the Nordic egalitarian organizational culture. The team task environment appears to be more dominant in multicultural R&D teams than anticipated in earlier research. To some extent, this mitigates the influences of culture on multicultural R&D team operations. However, results also show that individual team member personal experiences comprise of task specific as well as cultural (international) experiences emanating from being a member of a multicultural team. Together, these two components have a positive influence on R&D operations, yet intriguingly, task specific experiences resonate with task variability and task analyzability, while cultural experiences tend to influence task interdependence.

Suggested Citation

  • Arslan, Ahmad & Haapanen, Lauri & Ahokangas, Petri & Naughton, Sean, 2021. "Multicultural R&D team operations in high-tech SMEs: Role of team task environment and individual team members’ personal experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 661-672.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:128:y:2021:i:c:p:661-672
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.003
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    1. Arslan, Ahmad & Ahokangas, Petri & Haapanen, Lauri & Golgeci, Ismail & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Bazel-Shoham, Ofra, 2022. "Generational differences in organizational leaders: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of work meaningfulness in the Nordic high-tech organizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    2. Ahokangas, Petri & Haapanen, Lauri & Golgeci, Ismail & Arslan, Ahmad & Khan, Zaheer & Kontkanen, Minnie, 2022. "Knowledge sharing dynamics in international subcontracting arrangements: The case of Finnish high-tech SMEs," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    3. Rodgers, Waymond & Degbey, William Y. & Söderbom, Arne & Leijon, Svante, 2022. "Leveraging international R&D teams of portfolio entrepreneurs and management controllers to innovate: Implications of algorithmic decision-making," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 232-244.
    4. Hou, Tingting & Luo, Xin (Robert) & Ke, Dan & Cheng, Xusen, 2022. "Exploring different appraisals in deviant sharing behaviors: A mixed-methods study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 496-509.
    5. Xie, Hui & Li, Hao & Zhang, Kexin, 2025. "Research on evaluation of knowledge interaction indicators in multi-team systems based on management entropy," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

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