Intercultural Communication Competence: Well-being and Performance of Multicultural Teams

Kavitha Balakrishnan (1) , Madhubala Bava Harji (2) , Ajitha Angusamy (3)
(1) Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia , Malaysia
(2) Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia , Malaysia
(3) Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia , Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v21i2.16

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Issue
Vol. 21 No. 2 (2021)
Submitted
November 24, 2019
Published
July 30, 2021
Keywords:
    intercultural communication, communication competence, educators, well-being, team performance
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Abstract

Multiethnic groups coexist in a typical Malaysian university setting. Cultural patterns are expressed through communication facilitating better understanding between diverse cultural groups. Intercultural communication competence based on ethnicity is explained by employing structural equation modelling using Barrett and colleagues' (2013) indicators of attitude, knowledge and skills. These three constructs are hypothesized to explain intercultural communication competence and its effect on well-being and performance. Purposive sampling via a self-administered survey involved 288 Malaysian educators from higher education. The findings confirm that both endogenous constructs -- well-being and team performance -- can be used as predictive factors to assess intercultural communication competence.

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Authors

Kavitha Balakrishnan
Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
kavitha.balakrishnan@mmu.edu.my (Primary Contact)
Madhubala Bava Harji
Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
Ajitha Angusamy
Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia
Author Biographies

Kavitha Balakrishnan, Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Dr. Kavitha Balakrishnan is a principal lecturer in the Faculty of Applied Communication at Multimedia University in Malaysia. She teaches English language and communication and provides business writing courses, in-house trainings and communication-skills workshops for government agencies, corporate clients and private organizations. She has published in the areas of communication, language and education in Scopus-indexed journals

Madhubala Bava Harji, Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Dr. Madhubala Bava Harji is an associate professor attached to Multimedia University with vast experience in the administration of institutes and faculties, serving as head, director or dean. She is actively involved in research in language, communication and education. She has published textbooks as well as numerous papers in internationally indexed journals. She is a reviewer for various international journals. Her research areas of interest include the use of information and communications technology in education.

Ajitha Angusamy, Faculty of Applied Communication, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka, Malaysia

Dr. Ajitha Angusamy is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Business at Multimedia University. Her expertise is in the areas of education and social sciences. She teaches quantitative subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is actively involved in research and has published articles in numerous Scopus-indexed journals and with international conferences.

Balakrishnan, K., Harji, M. B., & Angusamy, A. (2021). Intercultural Communication Competence: Well-being and Performance of Multicultural Teams . Journal of Intercultural Communication, 21(2), 82–96. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v21i2.16
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