2022 EDSIG Proceedings: Abstract Presentation

Building Intercultural Competence in Information Systems Study Abroad

Carey Cole
James Madison University

Amy Connolly
James Madison University

In a well-functioning global society, information systems (IS) professionals need to learn how to develop intercultural competence skills in order to interact appropriately with people from different backgrounds and cultures (Deardorff, 2009). Research suggests that barely 35% of projects around the world are successful, often failing due to issues between people (Anantatmula & Thomas, 2008; Heard & Nieto-Rodriguez, 2021). Reducing barriers to effective communication across cultures requires more than simply learning a foreign language, studying abroad or completing a project with students from another country (Deardorff, 2009; Mitchell & Benyon, 2018). One must also reflect on one’s own culture and how those experiences affect how you view the world and your place within it. Since 2014, we have led small groups of IS students on study abroad trips to learn topics such as database, web development and consulting from global businesses (such as KPMG and Deloitte) in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and more. Although students enjoy these trips, we have begun to realize that we could do more. Students come back with stories to tell, but how have they broadened their worldview? Have they learned about appropriate intercultural interactions? Have students deeply reflected on their view of IS versus other cultures and the impacts those views might have on IS projects? Ideally, considering the time and expense of these programs and the recent drop in students’ interest in such experiences, we need a way to maximize their value-add. Helping students build intercultural competence could be one such way. Intercultural competence is a lifelong, learned skill that requires significant self-reflection, openness and curiosity, and empathy for others. In this presentation, we will present some ideas that we plan to implement in future IS courses to develop students’ intercultural competence skills.

Saturday at 9:35 am