Resumen de Developing Language Operative Capacity in a Subsidiary of a German MNC in China
Ke Zhao, Xiaowen Ye, Yu Zhang, Thomas Wienold
- 中文
跨国公司语言管理面临的主要挑战之一是提升企业多语能力，实现商业目标。然而，企业语言能力的概念还有待研究发展和探讨。为了填补这一空白，本研究旨在对一家提供商业管理软件的德国跨国公司的企业语言实操能力概念进行深入研究，并探讨该企业管理层是如何提升语言实操能力的。本研究的参与者为6名不同级别的管理者，包括2名副总裁和4名来自不同部门的高级经理。数据收集包括深度访谈和文件分析。定性分析表明，最高管理层将语言视为支持跨国公司全球战略的一个复杂、动态和多功能的系统。发展语言能力需要获取、部署和发展来自人力资本、社会文化资本和技术资本之间互动的语言资源。研究还发现了中层管理人员在支持公司发展语言实操能力，设计和实施与语言有关的活动方面发挥的作用。
- English
One of the key challenges of language management in multinational companies is developing corporate language capacities to fulfil business goals. Yet the notion of corporate language capacity remains to be explored and developed in research. To address this gap, this study aims to conceptualise corporate language operative capacity and investigate how it is developed at a German multinational corporation that specialises in providing business software. Participants in this study were six staff members at different levels, namely two vice presidents and four senior managers from different departments. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. Qualitative analyses indicated senior management’s conceptualisation of languages as a sophisticated, dynamic and multi-functioning system in support of the company’s global strategy. Developing corporate language operative capacity requires the acquisition, deployment and development of language resources derived from interactions among human capital, social-cultural capital and technological capital. Analyses of the data also identified middle-level management’s role in designing and implementing language-related activities to support the corporate goal of developing corporate language operative capacity
