本論文採用質性研究方法來分析基於語言因素形成的團隊斷層以及這類團隊斷層會如何影響跨國專案團隊中因高度語言多樣性引發的挑戰。本研究藉由與三名團隊成員的半結構化訪談與作為小組第四名成員的研究者之個人反思來深入洞察並取得更深入的見解。作為本研究對象之專案團隊曾合作過四個月，該團隊的特點為每個團隊成員的母語不同。研究結果表明，語言不對稱性會導致團隊斷層的出現，並明確地影響小組內的群體動力。儘管如此，本研究從研究對象的反饋中，筆者發現語言性的團隊斷層對整個團隊帶來正向的影響或是毫無影響。除此之外，本研究亦發現雖然團隊斷層會放慢知識共享過程的步調，卻能因此促進團隊學習和增加團隊凝聚力的機會。再者，雖然團隊斷層對信任形成過程沒有顯著影響，然而，權力動能會轉移到擅長運用指定工作語言子群體並使他們在團隊中更具影響力。因此，本研究認為在團隊斷層出現的背景下，理解語言多樣性的含義至關重要。

This thesis employs a qualitative approach to analyze whether and how language-based team faultlines affect challenges that are triggered by high language diversity within multinational project teams. In-depth insights have been gained through the combination of semi-structured interviews with three team members and personal reflections of the researcher, as the fourth member of the group. The researched project team collaborated over a timespan of four months and is characterized by the different mother tongues of each team member. The findings show that language asymmetries can lead to the emergence of faultlines and do impact internal group dynamics. Nonetheless, the reported influence of the language-based faultlines was either neutral or beneficial to the overall team. The knowledge-sharing process is slowed down, however, can also foster the opportunity to increase team learning and team bonding. The language-based faultlines had no significant effect on the trust formation process but shifted the power dynamics towards the subgroup with higher language skills in the chosen working language. Hence, this thesis underlines that it is critical to understand the implications of language diversity, especially in the context of team dynamics as faultlines can be triggered.

Table of Contents
Validation Letter ................................................................................................................ i
Acknowledgment .............................................................................................................. ii
Abstract (Chinese) ........................................................................................................... iii
Abstract (English) ............................................................................................................ iv
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Importance of the Topic ..................................................................................... 1
1.2. Personal Motivation ............................................................................................ 2
1.3. Research Question .............................................................................................. 2
1.4. Structure and Content of the Thesis ................................................................... 2
2. Multinational Project Teams ...................................................................................... 3
2.1. Social Identity Perspective ................................................................................. 4
3. Language Diversity .................................................................................................... 5
3.1. Challenges Emerging from Language Diversity ................................................ 6
Communication .................................................................................................. 6
Knowledge-Sharing ............................................................................................ 7
Trust Formation .................................................................................................. 8
Power Dynamics ................................................................................................. 9
Team Dynamics ................................................................................................ 10
4. Language-based Team Faultlines ............................................................................. 11
4.1. Language as a Faultline .................................................................................... 12
4.2. Implications of Language-Based Faultlines ..................................................... 13
5. Methodology ............................................................................................................ 17
5.1. Research Method .............................................................................................. 17
5.2. Sampling and Research Participants ................................................................. 18
5.3. Research Setting and Data Collection .............................................................. 19
5.4. Data Analysis .................................................................................................... 20
6. Results ...................................................................................................................... 21
6.1. Language-Based Faultlines ............................................................................... 21
6.2. Knowledge-Sharing .......................................................................................... 24
6.3. Trust Formation ................................................................................................ 27
6.4. Power Dynamics ............................................................................................... 29
7. Discussion & Personal Reflection ............................................................................ 32
8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 35
9. References ................................................................................................................ 38
10. Appendix .................................................................................................................. 45
10.1. Interview Guideline ............................................................................... 45
10.2. Interview Team Member Canada .......................................................... 46
10.3. Interview Team Member China ............................................................ 51
10.4. Interview Team Member Taiwan .......................................................... 58

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