The influence of language diversity on employee voice in the multinational workplace in Asia

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21K13361
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Review Section	Basic Section 07080:Business administration-related
Research Institution	Yokohama National University
Principal Investigator	YANG YUNYUE 横浜国立大学, 大学院国際社会科学研究院, 准教授 (00881905)
Project Period (FY)	2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Project Status	Granted (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000) Fiscal Year 2023: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000) Fiscal Year 2022: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000) Fiscal Year 2021: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Keywords	employee voice / language diversity / voice climate / proactive behavior / gender / multinational workplace / voice behavior / language / diversity / Asia
Outline of Research at the Start	Using a systematic literature review and two empirical studies, the current research aims to explore whether, how, and when language diversity influences employee voice within the multinational workplace in Asia. This research contributes to a reconstruction of voice literature through the incorporation of the language diversity perspective and deepens the understanding of employee voice in the Asian context.
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	My achievements include: First, I completed an empirical study in multinational companies in China, examining the influence of local employees’ English proficiency on their voice behavior towards expatriates. This paper was prepared for journal submission. Second, by using a scenario-based experiment conducted in Japan and the United Kingdom, I investigated how individuals' voice tactics, including emotional and rational aspects, affect supervisors’ evaluations of voice. Additionally, I investigated gender differences in this behavior, contributing to both voice research and the broader field of gender diversity. This study has been presented at an international academic conference and is currently being prepared for journal submission. Third, I examined the role of voice climate in gender differences related to job attitudes across various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This study has been submitted and accepted for presentation at an international conference. Forth, I revised a conceptual paper that focuses on the relationship between language barriers and proactive behavior within multinational teams. This paper provides a theoretical framework that enhances our understanding of how language barriers impact employees’ willingness and ability to engage in proactive behaviors. I intend to submit this paper for publication in the third year of my research.
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned. Reason This research primarily focuses on the behavior of individuals working in diverse work environments. To develop the framework and examine the hypotheses, it is necessary to conduct field research abroad, collect data from other countries, and interact with researchers internationally. However, the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited opportunities for such exchanges. Nonetheless, throughout the second year, I had the chance to participate in several domestic and international conferences held in Japan. These conferences provided valuable feedback and opinions from prominent researchers. Additionally, I was able to collect and analyze data, as well as test hypotheses, using online questionnaires and secondary data methods to complete the manuscript. The finalized papers have been submitted to international conferences and have been accepted. Despite the challenges, my research has been steadily advancing and has yielded certain achievements.
Strategy for Future Research Activity	In the third year of my research, my primary focus will be on revising and enhancing the existing papers based on the results obtained in the second year. In comparison to the previous year, there are now increased international exchange opportunities available, and I intend to attend several international conferences to present my research findings. This will allow me to receive valuable insights and feedback from scholars working in the same field. I will utilize this feedback to further refine my paper and ultimately submit it for publication in a leading journal.