Knowledge sharing and language diversity in organisations: influence of code switching and convergence

Abstract

Individual-level knowledge sharing is an important collaborative activity that is critical for organisational performance. As multilingual workplaces are becoming common, it has become increasingly important to understand the impact of language on knowledge sharing. Although previous research on knowledge management acknowledges the influence of language on knowledge sharing, the language use (practices) that actually conditions this effect remains largely unexamined. In this paper, we introduce two types of language practices known as code switching and convergence in sociolinguistics. By using insights on language from sociolinguistics, we attempt to show how code switching and convergence by organisational employees may influence individual-level knowledge sharing in multilingual organisations. We also suggest some new research directions for language and knowledge sharing in both theoretical and methodological terms. Understanding the influence of code switching and convergence on knowledge sharing is one step toward a better understanding of knowledge sharing as a whole in multilingual organisations. It would enhance the odds of developing knowledge management strategies that may neutralise or at least limit the negative influence of language diversity on knowledge sharing.

The Impact of Language Diversity on Knowledge Sharing Within International University Research Teams: Evidence From TED Project

“…Both interviews and the direct observations show that code-switching is employed within the team to support the knowledge-sharing process instead of limiting it. This result contrasts with what Ahmad and Widén (2018) observed in multinational organizations. Notably, the authors expected that code-switching away from corporate language negatively affects the organizational KS potential between linguistically diverse employees in a multilingual organization because code-switching limits communication with non-native speakers.…”

“… Ahmad and Widén (2015) mainly sustained that language clustering is usually a barrier to KS because it promotes segregation. Moreover, more recently, they stated that code-switching away from the corporate language in multilingual situations has negative effects on the knowledge-sharing potential between linguistically diverse employees in a multilingual organization ( Ahmad and Widén, 2018 ). Unlike the authors, we focused on an international university research team aiming to share knowledge to get the project’s final aim.…”

“…Depending on it, managers and leaders should detect language diversity to address its main consequences. Within the field of knowledge management, Ahmad and Widén (2018) examined the process of KS in non-native language contexts, detailing the strategies adopted by the employees to deal with problems of KS. One of the significant findings of their study is that employees feel that knowledge sharing in a non-native language setting is a costly activity.…”

“…Similarly, the two language practices known as code-switching and convergence were examined to understand their impact on individual KS in multilingual organizations ( Ahmad and Widén, 2018 ). More recently, Tenzer et al (2021) investigated how language diversity affects communication and knowledge processing in multinational teams.…”

“…The scholars’ interest in the issue has been increased in recent years because of globalization and the widespread development of international research teams ( Klitmøller and Lauring, 2013 ). Thus, a wide range of contributions has emerged in dealing with the use of non-native language in multinational organizations ( Henderson, 2005 ; Ahmad, 2018 ; Ahmad and Widén, 2018 ; Tenzer et al, 2021 ). Despite this, very little is known about how language, mainly non-native language, affects KS within international research teams, the last defined as work teams aiming to produce new knowledge.…”