First keynote address:  Multilingual virtual team communication in the AI era: Implications and future research

Helene Tenzer is Associate Professor of International Management at LMU Munich School of Management in Germany. Her research interests include language diversity in multinational organizations, multilingual and virtual teams, leadership in multinational organizations, international HRM and OB. Helene is on the Editorial Review Boards of Academy of Management Review, Journal of World Business and Management International Review. Her work has been published in journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of World Business and Academy of Management Learning and Education. Helene also runs a mailing list for international management researchers with an interest in language, which currently has about 130 international subscribers.

 

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way multilingual virtual teams (MVTs) communicate. For example, state-of-the-art AI tools for machine translation (e.g., Google Translate) can reduce language barriers in the communication of MVTs. In this keynote, I will provide an overview of potential AI applications to support MVT communication. For each application, I will discuss how AI tools may facilitate communication across language barriers. However, given that existing AI tools are far from error-free, I will also delve into the current technological uncertainties faced by MVTs in how AI tools process language. On this basis, I will explore how MVT members interact with AI tools, how these tools influence team dynamics, and how they affect diversity, equality, and inclusion within MVTs. My discussion culminates in proposing meaningful directions for future research, which aim to stimulate empirical research and theory development for language-related international business research. Throughout my keynote, I will adopt an interdisciplinary lens by bringing together insights from language-sensitive research in international business with evidence from other disciplines such as psychology and computer science, which is vital for comprehensively understanding the transformative effects of AI on communication within MVTs.

Second keynote address: Cultivating responsible cross-language research: A focus on responsibility and transparency

Agnieszka (Aggie) Chidlow holds the distinguished position of full Professor of International Business at the University of Birmingham (UK) and currently serves as a secondee to the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) an initiative by the UN Global Compact. Widely acknowledged as a prominent capacity builder for impactful initiatives, she is an esteemed advocate for knowledge exchange and engagement in the realm of responsible management scholarship. Her eminence is underscored by numerous accolades recognising her exceptional service to the academic community.  Her research, published in leading academic journals, has positioned her as a preeminent authority in her discipline on a global scale. As a Working Board Member of the Responsible Research in Business and Management global network (RRBM), where she found the “RRBM on Tour” symposium, an accreditation panel member of the Accreditation of MBAs and BGA (AMBA & BGA), and an international advisory board member to numerous Higher Education institutions globally, she actively contributes to shaping the landscape of responsible management education. A stalwart in her commitment to advocating credible research methodology, she serves as an international advisory board member of the Consortium for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA) and is one of the co-founding members of the Academy of International Business Research Methods-Shared Interest Group (AIB RM-SIG). Moreover, her editorial contributions extend to several internationally recognised and impactful journals, further solidifying her standing as a distinguished figure in the academic community and beyond. Additional information about her can be found on various social media platforms.

Abstract

As members of a cross-language scholarly community, we actively contribute to and advance ongoing research debates through the generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge that transcends linguistic boundaries. Consequently, our endeavours play a crucial role in the intricate development of knowledge. The primary objective of the keynote is to catalyse an engaged discourse on responsible cross-language scholarship by directing participants’ attention not only towards a researcher’s scientific responsibility and integrity but also towards key stakeholders in Higher Education ecosystems. This includes the Responsible Research in Business Management (RRBM) global network, founded by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) as well as the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), an initiative of UN Global Compact. As thought leaders, such entities are dedicated to promoting responsible research and management education within the realm of social sciences.

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