Overcoming intercultural communication barriers : Organisational Culture and Organisational Learning within a Swedish Textile Company

Abstract: This thesis attempts to discover what actions are necessary to mitigate these problems within textile companies. Theories on organisational culture, organisational learning, and international management, were addressed in relation to intercultural communication. Using an exemplifying case of one single person within Eton AB, a case study research design was conducted. The data was collected through a qualitative research strategy and method, using self-completion/self-administrative questionnaires, and analysed using grounded theory. The general result of the thesis indicates that few communication errors between Eton AB and the participant exist. Therefore this interrelation can be seen as a positive example of intercultural communication within a textile company. In this context, it was the authors’ intention to identify the influence organisational culture and organisational learning have on intercultural communication. Certain aspects within an organisational culture are of importance to create a better integration of employees, hence influence intercultural relations positively. Organisational learning, likewise, has a positive impact, since it contributes to the creation of a better environment for integration. This thesis concludes with generalised measures which can be seen as a guideline and as first steps for textile companies in order to reduce intercultural communication errors.