이문화 적응과 전환학습 과정에 관한 사례연구

초록

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the process through which expatriates face and overcome dilemmas in a cross-cultural environment based on Mezirow’s ten-stage transformative learning process model. For this purpose, the following questions were set: First, what cross-cultural adaptation process do expatriates experience? Second, what transformative process do they experience in cross-cultural adaptation? Third, what factors assist them in overcoming cross-cultural situations? This qualitative case study consisted of five Koreans who had worked as expatriates at U.S. plants of K Automobile Company for three years or more and then returned to Korea. The results of this study can be summarized according to three themes. First, the study participants experienced a time-series cross-cultural adaptation process that involved: ① cross-cultural friction, followed by ② crisis, ③ changes, and ④ adaptation. Second, the participants passed through Mezirow's (1991) transformative learning stages in the cross-cultural adaptation process. Their transformative process involved five stages: ① experience of a confusing dilemma; ② problem awareness and self-reflection; ③ requests for help and a shift in awareness; ④ perspective shifting and new attempts; and ⑤ awareness of a changed self. Third, there were several factors that catalyzed the participants into adopting positive cross-cultural adaptations. Organizational expectations and their sense of responsibility and duty facilitated both crisis and adaptation. Other facilitators of cross-cultural adaptation included advice from those with prior experiences, discussions and conversations with colleagues, advice provided by the Human Resources department, resident Koreans, help from HCNs, and help from natives. Discussions and conversations with colleagues and help from others were found to be vital to cross-cultural adaptation.

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