{"id":{"repo_id":"middlesex","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.mdx.ac.uk:8q1y2"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/middlesex/oai:repository.mdx.ac.uk:8q1y2","repository":{"repo_id":"middlesex","name":"Middlesex University","base_url":"https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/oai2"},"display":{"title":"English as a lingua franca: developing a tool to improve international business communication","abstract":"In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. The project’s intention was to develop a training or coaching product (the doctoral artefact) that would help native speakers of English adjust cultural and linguistic aspects of their communication for better relationships and results in international teams. I identified this training need from client feedback in my professional work as a managing director of an international communication training consultancy (AC Ltd.). As such, I planned to design a useful artefact for this field that would directly contribute to my own professional practice. The research was carried out using an Action Research (AR) approach, starting with a reconnaissance phase where some key root causes of communication breakdowns between native and non-native speakers of English were established. Key behaviours and skills of excellent international communicators were also identified. This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles. My research participants included international professionals from a range of countries and professions, and also consisted of mixed nationality staff at a UK financial institution (Fin A), a UK based team from a technology company (Tech B), and a Japanese online shopping organisation (Online Shopping C). The interventions with these three organisations eventually led to a change in the intention of the artefact; namely, a move away from a prescriptive training course, to a set of cards consisting of questions that were derived from the research outcomes. These cards enable open and honest conversations between individuals and amongst teams. Thus, the artefact I am presenting alongside this thesis is a flexible development tool for teams where English is the lingua franca. Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. The artefact, together with this thesis, provides a unique contribution from a practice perspective to the academic fields of International Business Communication (IBC) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It does so by highlighting the need for open conversations around the challenges (and joys) of international teamwork in English.","abstract_html":"In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. The project’s intention was to develop a training or coaching product (the doctoral artefact) that would help native speakers of English adjust cultural and linguistic aspects of their communication for better relationships and results in international teams. I identified this training need from client feedback in my professional work as a managing director of an international communication training consultancy (AC Ltd.). As such, I planned to design a useful artefact for this field that would directly contribute to my own professional practice. The research was carried out using an Action Research (AR) approach, starting with a reconnaissance phase where some key root causes of communication breakdowns between native and non-native speakers of English were established. Key behaviours and skills of excellent international communicators were also identified. This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles. My research participants included international professionals from a range of countries and professions, and also consisted of mixed nationality staff at a UK financial institution (Fin A), a UK based team from a technology company (Tech B), and a Japanese online shopping organisation (Online Shopping C). The interventions with these three organisations eventually led to a change in the intention of the artefact; namely, a move away from a prescriptive training course, to a set of cards consisting of questions that were derived from the research outcomes. These cards enable open and honest conversations between individuals and amongst teams. Thus, the artefact I am presenting alongside this thesis is a flexible development tool for teams where English is the lingua franca. Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. The artefact, together with this thesis, provides a unique contribution from a practice perspective to the academic fields of International Business Communication (IBC) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It does so by highlighting the need for open conversations around the challenges (and joys) of international teamwork in English.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Morgan, A."],"institution":"Middlesex University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":"DProf thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021","date_published":"2021","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:04:07Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:repository.mdx.ac.uk:8q1y2"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:repository.mdx.ac.uk:8q1y2","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Morgan, A."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2021"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Health, Social Care and Education"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["Middlesex University"]},{"key":"dc:relation","label":"Dc Relation","values":["https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8q1y2"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8q1y2"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis or dissertation"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["DProf thesis"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:repository.mdx.ac.uk:8q1y2"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/download/415a74fd691509d5b7d6dfe475d4618204aec79afe8deaddc1429e0d0f019cad/4225121/AJMorgan%20thesis%20EMBARGO.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. 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This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles. My research participants included international professionals from a range of countries and professions, and also consisted of mixed nationality staff at a UK financial institution (Fin A), a UK based team from a technology company (Tech B), and a Japanese online shopping organisation (Online Shopping C). The interventions with these three organisations eventually led to a change in the intention of the artefact; namely, a move away from a prescriptive training course, to a set of cards consisting of questions that were derived from the research outcomes. These cards enable open and honest conversations between individuals and amongst teams. Thus, the artefact I am presenting alongside this thesis is a flexible development tool for teams where English is the lingua franca. Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. The artefact, together with this thesis, provides a unique contribution from a practice perspective to the academic fields of International Business Communication (IBC) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It does so by highlighting the need for open conversations around the challenges (and joys) of international teamwork in English."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. The project’s intention was to develop a training or coaching product (the doctoral artefact) that would help native speakers of English adjust cultural and linguistic aspects of their communication for better relationships and results in international teams. I identified this training need from client feedback in my professional work as a managing director of an international communication training consultancy (AC Ltd.). As such, I planned to design a useful artefact for this field that would directly contribute to my own professional practice. The research was carried out using an Action Research (AR) approach, starting with a reconnaissance phase where some key root causes of communication breakdowns between native and non-native speakers of English were established. Key behaviours and skills of excellent international communicators were also identified. This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles. My research participants included international professionals from a range of countries and professions, and also consisted of mixed nationality staff at a UK financial institution (Fin A), a UK based team from a technology company (Tech B), and a Japanese online shopping organisation (Online Shopping C). The interventions with these three organisations eventually led to a change in the intention of the artefact; namely, a move away from a prescriptive training course, to a set of cards consisting of questions that were derived from the research outcomes. These cards enable open and honest conversations between individuals and amongst teams. Thus, the artefact I am presenting alongside this thesis is a flexible development tool for teams where English is the lingua franca. Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. 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Its aim is to improve collaboration, empathy and inclusion in international teams. The artefact, together with this thesis, provides a unique contribution from a practice perspective to the academic fields of International Business Communication (IBC) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). It does so by highlighting the need for open conversations around the challenges (and joys) of international teamwork in English."],"dc:description.abstract":["In this project, I investigated the challenges of communication in international teams that use English as their lingua franca in a business setting. The project’s intention was to develop a training or coaching product (the doctoral artefact) that would help native speakers of English adjust cultural and linguistic aspects of their communication for better relationships and results in international teams. I identified this training need from client feedback in my professional work as a managing director of an international communication training consultancy (AC Ltd.). As such, I planned to design a useful artefact for this field that would directly contribute to my own professional practice. The research was carried out using an Action Research (AR) approach, starting with a reconnaissance phase where some key root causes of communication breakdowns between native and non-native speakers of English were established. Key behaviours and skills of excellent international communicators were also identified. This knowledge contributed to the design of a range of training and knowledge-sharing interventions that were carried out with research participants over three AR cycles. 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