Intercultural Communication Competence of Thai Employees in Chinese Organization: Case Study Video Streaming Platform

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the intercultural communication competence and the factors that affect to the intercultural communication competence of Thai employees in Chinese organization, in the case study of video streaming platform. This research is qualitative research, using in-depth interview with Thai employees which works in Chinese organization at least 1 year.

The finding shows that Thais employees have intercultural communication competence with 3 components: cognitive component which means knowledge of Chinese language and culture and able to merge the context of cultural differences as well, affective component covers with adaptive motivation and identity flexibility, and operational component that employees are open to cultural differences, interact with Chinese people and choose appropriate solutions to solve the problems. In addition, all components above are inevitably interrelated.

Moreover, the factors that affect to intercultural communication competence are language and communication factor that employees need to improve equivalent as native in order to communicate properly, understanding of cultural differences factors which can be divided into 2 aspects: understanding of cultural differences in lifestyle and work, personal preference, and motivation which is the willingness of Thais employees to learn and increases their own skills to meet the expectation of organization and social acceptance.

Keywords: Intercultural Communication, Intercultural Communication Competence, Chinese Organization, Video Streaming Platform