The influence of the multilingual environment on multinational team decision-making processes: a literature review and proposed conceptual model

Abstract

Following a recent research call by leading authorities in the field of language-related international business (IB) research, we focus on multilingualism in multinational teams (MNTs). We approach multilingualism as an organisational environment (not as a skillset). We explore how the multilingual organisational environment influences decision-making processes within MNTs. We start with a bibliometric literature review which shows to what extent team-level aspects of language and multilingualism have been explored so far in the literature. This is followed by a focused literature review examining the influence of the multilingual organisational environment on decision-making processes within MNTs in a balanced manner (positive and negative outcomes) at both the individual and team level. We present a 2 × 2 multi-level dynamic conceptual model (with positive/negative effects) of multilingual environment phenomena, mechanisms and outcomes focusing on MNT decision-making. We finish with future directions and questions to guide research on multilingualism in MNTs.