The changing nature of international business relationships and foreign language competence. (15th November 2004)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swift, Jonathan; Huang, Yuelu
• Is Part Of: International journal of management practice. Volume 1:Number 1(2004)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2004-11-15
• Subjects: foreign language competence -- cross-cultural business relationship development -- joint ventures -- international business -- culture -- internationalisation -- market entry -- communications -- business relationships; Management -- Periodicals; 658.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9064

Abstract

This paper examines the role of Foreign Language Competence (FLC) in international business, at a time when business activity, in general, is becoming increasingly international, and when the focus of business relationships is changing from that of a short-term, task-orientated approach, to one of a longer-term relationship orientation. As a consequence of these changes, the authors suggest that FLC should become increasingly focused on the development/maintenance of long-term business relationships, rather than the traditional short-term "sales-orientation" which has been the case so far. The paper is a conceptual contribution, which will be empirically tested at a later date.