This study attempts to identify and explore the psychodynamics of Australian
and Korean business encounters in Seoul, Republic of Korea, by describing and
discussing 'Australian-ness' and 'Korean-ness' as representations of what I will call
'National character in-the-mind'. A guiding hypothesis is that in highly charged
emotional settings, like those associated with foreign business encounters, National
character in-the-mind acts as a psychological and emotional container, and a protective
screen to hide more intricate institutional anxieties and defences. The data supporting
the study is drawn from my interviews with 12 Australian and 6 Korean business people
conducted between 3 and 14 June 1996 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The study also
reflects my experience and role as researcher in the research as a source, creator and
interpreter of data through the exploration of my own introspection. The findings
demonstrate how Australian-ness and Korean-ness appear to represent projections of the
human imagination, willed within the bounds of individual experience and perception.
A model for evaluating Cultural Misunderstanding and Defensive/Adaptive Behaviour
is proposed with the aim of seeking improved understanding of the Australian and
Korean National character. The model applies learning from the research experience
which emphasises the need for Australian and Korean business people to take a more
adaptive approach to the contrary behaviours they encounter. The model also
acknowledges the value of investing time to establish and maintain cross-cultural
business relationships based on access, whereby Australian and Korean business people
see themselves as resources of mutual gain, reducing the potential for
misunderstanding, fear and mistrust and the subsequent invocation of defensive
responses.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/216487 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Ryan, Ernest Leslie, Not available |
| Publisher | Swinburne University of Technology. |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.swin.edu.au/), Copyright Ernest Leslie Ryan |
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