Thriving in a Multicultural Workplace: Intercultural Communication Apprehension Among Professional Engineers and Architects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The constantly evolving world through innovations and developments has diversified the society where people belong to. As more people travel to places, communication is made faster, and advancing technology that bridges gaps makes interconnectivity among humans more prevalent. These connectivity, mobility, and diversity resulted in increased intercultural contacts, as well as the increase of intercultural communication apprehension, which could hinder effectiveness and efficiency of individuals in multicultural organizations. Previous studies indicate that communication apprehension affects at least 30 to 40 percent of the general population with high degrees affecting individuals at least once in their lifetime. There have been studies measuring the communication apprehension in intercultural contexts however this is yet to be documented among professional engineers and architects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which this study aimed at filling this gap.

This study explored the intercultural communication apprehension of professional engineers and architects living and working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Specifically, it determined the respondent’s profile, their intercultural apprehension level and their perceived factors causing this apprehension. The data were collected through an internet survey and made use of descriptive and correlational analysis. A total of 187 respondents participated in the survey.

Results indicated that professional engineers and architects have generally lower intercultural communication apprehension. Demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, years of experience and occupation were compared and analyzed. It was found that education level is inversely associated with intercultural communication apprehension. Certain factors such as their intercultural awareness, language fluency, and cultural behavior have caused this phenomenon. Hofstede's cultural dimensions of individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity/femininity through the national culture index of Saudia Arabia were used to provide behavioral interpretation of the results. The findings provided insights to professional organizations and multinational companies to offer programs and interventions to harness cultural understanding among working professionals.