Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-100).

This study aims to explore communication deviances and strategies in the negotiation discourse of Malaysian-Australian business encounters, from both a linguistic and nonlinguistic perspective. Specifically, it sees miscommunications/deviances as factors that may hinder the business communication process and prevent the negotiators from achieving their objectives. The study also focuses on strategies, or those discourse skills which promote successful business negotiation. The research method is based on the analysis of discourse generated from initial 'perception' interviews, business meetings, and post-meeting 'follow-up' interviews. The research involved a cross-section of Malaysian and Australian business people from various industries; such as tourism, information technology, hospitality and financial services. The initial 'perception' interviews were intended to gather data on the prior experiences of Malaysian and Australian businesspeople, both in terms of the reported difficulties and strengths in their business interactions and dealings in Western Australia. In the second stage of the analysis, the deviances which signalled miscommunication in the negotiation were identified in the recorded meeting data. Also identified were the strategies which were used by the negotiators to increase the likelihood that their goals will be achieved. The objective of the research was then to interpret why these strategies were being used, and their influence on the negotiation process. From the data a pattern emerged in the way that deviance occurred, and the way that strategies were being performed. This has made it possible to group deviance and strategies and present the findings thematically. Altogether, five themes identified, these were: Management of topics, Building rapport; Ethical business conduct; Building recognition; Styles in business practice. The study has shown that business communication discourse reflects the embedded culture of its speakers. Topic management was also found to play an important role in the business meetings as it enabled the participants to more effectively lead their discussion towards its intended goal. Both the deviance and strategies have been managed by the business negotiators in the way they select the appropriate topic categories in order to effectively maintain the discussion throughout the meeting.

This thesis investigates the applications and implications of Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) technology in international entrepreneurship. The research questions focus on how GPT can serve as a strategic tool, communication tool, and knowledge leverage tool, and how these applications influence decision-making, enhance performance, The findings from the analysis chapters highlights that GPT significantly contributes to strategic planning, market analysis, and operational management, thereby enhancing decision-making and performance. GPT technology, acting as a potent communication tool, nurtures more robust client relationships and eases cross-cultural interactions, courtesy of its superior language processing capabilities. The thesis discusses how these capabilities of GPT can lead to reduced miscommunications and enhanced client satisfaction. This, in turn, contributes to cost savings by retaining existing customers and attracting new ones, thereby enhancing profits. Moreover, The main theoretical implications that this  thesis has resulted in will showcase the time efficiency brought by automated, high-quality communication that reduces man-hours spent on routine interactions, freeing resources for strategic tasks for international entrepreneurship.  Furthermore, this study enriches the literature on generative AI exemplified by models like GPT in the world of international business, particularly within the context of international entrepreneurship. It offers essential insights that can guide international entrepreneurs in understanding the potential advantages of integrating GPT technology into their business operations.

Recent surveys of international business professionals indicate that foreign language abilities and cultural sensitivity are important competitive advantages in today's globalized economy. The current study interviewed 71 practicing global professionals currently working in cross border transactions in diverse fields. Biographic, demographic and second language data were collected, including information on experiences and opinions on the use and importance of foreign language and cultural awareness abilities in the professional world. Research questions include: (1) Who are the global professionals applying L2 abilities at work? (2) How do they apply these abilities? (3) What are the profiles of advanced and non-advanced proficiency users? (4) How important are linguistic abilities and how much of a competitive advantage do they represent? (5) What language strategies and communication strategies are used? (6) What are the most common beliefs on the role of foreign languages and culture awareness in business? (7) How well do intercultural communication models explain the culture views and experiences reported by working professionals? Results indicate that learners with self-reported advanced proficiency regularly apply the four language abilities (listening, reading, speaking and writing) at work, albeit in varying degrees, depending on the level of complexity of the task (phone, email, face-to-face meeting, etc.). For the majority of informants, foreign language and culture abilities are considered important for professional effectiveness. For those who reported advanced foreign language abilities, they also exhibited a greater appreciation for increased exposure to foreign language learning, had received more foreign language instruction, and had more experience working and living abroad. Those advanced in foreign language abilities were also more likely to be non-native speakers of English, have earned a university degree while using an L2, had family or community connections to the target language, have emigrated, or have a spouse with a different L1. The study also ranks and identifies the informants' strategies used to deal with language and culture issues. Participants' anecdotes were analyzed in light of current cultural analysis models applied in International Business Communications. Suggestions are presented for curricula changes to improve foreign language proficiency in professional settings. / text

本研究探究在進行跨國商務溝通時，所應具備職能為何，藉由文獻探討、訪 談、專家會議和問卷調查等方式確立國際商務溝通職能模型，並且針對一真實課 程進行評鑑工具的發展和驗證，以瞭解工具和課程的有效性。 根據研究的結果，確立了台灣人才在全球舞台上的國際商務溝通職能包含三 個層次、九個構面，即為基礎、加分和目標三層次，敏感度、同理心、積極性、 彈性、商業專業能力、運用語言能力、傳遞訊息能力、傾聽能力、和建立共識等 九個構面，並且根據這九個構面發展出每一構面的行為指標。而評鑑工具的發展 上，經過信度、效度和鑑別度的分析，確認評鑑工具的有效性。而後進行課程有 效性分析，發現課程的介入確實顯著提昇學生的職能展現。 本研究所建構的職能模型和評鑑工具皆通過考驗和證實，最後研究者提供在 教育訓練、評鑑和未來研究的建議。 / The purpose of this study is to explore what is the necessary competency for international business communication and use them to develop the assessment tool. Through literature review, expert interviews, expert panel and questionnaire survey, the study builds the international business competency model and assessment tool to offer a structure helping Taiwanese talents to go on the world stage smoothly. According to the result, there are three levels and nine dimensions in the international business competency for Taiwanese. It includes “must have”, “nice to have” and “goal” levels, which contain sensitivity, sympathy, aggressiveness, flexibility, business profession ability, language using ability, message delivering ability, listening and achieving consensus. Moreover, the research also develops behavior indicators for each dimension. In the part of assessment tool, the efficacy is confirmed by reliability, validity and discrimination analysis. The international business communication competency model and assessment tool are all confirmed the efficacy. In the end, the researcher provides the suggestions for training, assessment and follow-up academic studies.

This paper was aimed at researching the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in a business context by the use of linguistic ethnography (LE). Previous research has been primarily either survey- or interview-based or strictly qualitative in its investigation. Using shadowing observations of three employees at a Swedish multinational company and subsequently interviewing the participants about their use of Business English as a lingua franca (BELF), the present study set out to investigate for what kinds of functions and how often these employees use English on an everyday basis. English was shown to be the default language of the multinational company and the findings suggest that employees’ use of language is not only determined by the nature of their work and the business setting, but also by their personal backgrounds. Their education, upbringing, and social experiences since moving to Sweden have come to shape their language use at work and in everyday life. Moreover, there could be subsequent implications for them not only in work-related functions and activities at the company but also in their integration and immersion in Swedish society. Using LE to investigate language choice and use in a corporate setting allows for a more nuanced collection of data, providing a context to linguistic research.