Cultural and language skills as resources for boundary spanning within the MNC

Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen, Mats Ehrnrooth, Alexei Koveshnikov and Kristiina Mä;kelä
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Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen: Department of Management and Organization, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland
Mats Ehrnrooth: Department of Management and Organization, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland
Alexei Koveshnikov: Department of Management and Organization, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland
Kristiina Mä;kelä: School of Business, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland

Journal of International Business Studies, 2014, vol. 45, issue 7, 886-905

Abstract: We examine the role of cultural and language skills as resources for individuals’ boundary spanning ability in multinational corporations. Our combined qualitative and quantitative analysis shows that cultural and language skills influence the extent to which individual boundary spanners perform four functions: exchanging, linking, facilitating, and intervening. Boundary spanners with both cultural and language skills perform more functions than those with only cultural skills, and language skills are critical for performing the most demanding functions. Key boundary spanners have properties that potentially make them not only valuable organizational human capital, but also rare and difficult to imitate. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Date: 2014
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