English as a lingua franca: developing a tool to improve international business communication

In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. The project’s intention was to develop a training or coaching product (the doctoral artefact) that would help native speakers of English adjust cultural and linguistic aspects of their communication for better relationships and results in international teams. I identified this training need from client feedback in my professional work as a managing director of an international communication training consultancy (AC Ltd.). As such, I planned to design a useful artefact for this field that would directly contribute to my own professional practice.
The research was carried out using an Action Research (AR) approach, starting with a reconnaissance phase where some key root causes of communication breakdowns between native and non-native speakers of English were established. Key behaviours and skills of excellent international communicators were also identified. This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles.
My research participants included international professionals from a range of countries and professions, and also consisted of mixed nationality staff at a UK financial institution (Fin A), a UK based team from a technology company (Tech B), and a Japanese online shopping organisation (Online Shopping C). The interventions with these three organisations eventually led to a change in the intention of the artefact; namely, a move away from a prescriptive training course, to a set of cards consisting of questions that were derived from the research outcomes. These cards enable open and honest conversations between individuals and amongst teams.
Thus, the artefact I am presenting alongside this thesis is a flexible development tool for teams where English is the lingua franca. Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. The artefact, together with this thesis, provides a unique contribution from a practice perspective to the academic fields of International Business Communication (IBC) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It does so by highlighting the need for open conversations around the challenges (and joys) of international teamwork in English.