The impact of cultural differences on LINE app communication among Thai and Chinese employees

Its effects on employee engagement

https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS5.7846

Authors

  • Jenette Villegas–Puyod Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Assumption University, Samut Prakan, Thailand
  • Tipnuch Phungsoonthorn Business and General Education Center, Dusit Thani College, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Phichitphol Sitthipo Faculty of Business and Technology, Stamford International University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Wissawa Aunyawong College of Logistics and Supply Chain, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand

Keywords:

LINE, cultural differences, communication, employee engagement, employee

Abstract

This research explored the impact of cultural differences using LINE application as a communication channel toward the components of employee engagement. This research added more contributions to using LINE application and employee engagement which found that both factors--job demands and employee support--are associated positively with the intensity of social media use. The survey data were gathered from 300 Thai lecturers and 300 Chinese lecturers from a private university in Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. The results from the regression analysis showed that the LINE app used for personal related internal communication has negative effects on vigor, dedication and absorption for the Thai respondents. As for the Chinese respondents, it has positive effects on vigor, dedication and absorption. This means that in the Chinese context the more they are engaged with their personal whereabouts the more active they are in the workplace.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aunyawong, W., Puyod, J. V., Buaphiban, T., & Jitt-Aer, K. (2020). The Impact of Internal Communication Channel Using Line on Employee Engagement. . NKRAFA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 16(1), 29-41.

Aydin, G. (2020). Improving Health and Efficiency With Strategic Social Media Use in Health Organizations: A Critical Review of the Status Quo. In Multidimensional Perspectives and Global Analysis of Universal Health Coverage (pp. 309-336): IGI Global.

Bowden, J., Burton, B., & Power, D. (2018). Rumours built on quicksand: evidence on the nature and impact of message board postings in modern equity markets. The European Journal of Finance, 24(7-8), 544-564.

Charoensukmongkol, P. (2014). Effects of support and job demands on social media use and work outcomes. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 340-349. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.061

Charoensukmongkol, P., & Puyod, J. V. (2020). Mindfulness and emotional exhaustion in call center agents in the Philippines: moderating roles of work and personal characteristics. The Journal of General Psychology, 1-25. doi:10.1080/00221309.2020.1800582

Chen Hsieh, J. S., Huang, Y.-M., & Wu, W.-C. V. (2017). Technological acceptance of LINE in flipped EFL oral training. Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 178-190. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.12.066

Cho, V., & Hung, H. (2015). Sending mobile messages to different social ties in modern urban life: How do anxiety and time-shortage matter? Information Technology & People, 28(3), 544-569. doi:10.1108/ITP-07-2013-0122

Constantin, E. C., & Baias, C. C. (2015). Employee voice-key factor in internal communication. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 191(2), 975-978.

Daud, N. S. M., Daud, N. M., & Kassim, N. L. A. (2016). Second language writing anxiety: Cause or effect? Malaysian journal of ELT research, 1(1), 1-19.

Dejima, Y., & Ikeda-Ohtsubo, W. (2016). Internet-age parents and Children after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan after 3/11: Global Perspectives on the Earthquake, Tsunami, and Fukushima Meltdown, 269.

Dhir, A., Kaur, P., & Rajala, R. (2020). Continued use of mobile instant messaging apps: A new perspective on theories of consumption, flow, and planned behavior. Social Science Computer Review, 38(2), 147-169.

Dragojevic, M., Berglund, C., & Blauvelt, T. K. (2018). Figuring out who’s who: The role of social categorization in the language attitudes process. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 37(1), 28-50.

Dwyer, R. J., Kushlev, K., & Dunn, E. W. (2018). Smartphone use undermines enjoyment of face-to-face social interactions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 78, 233-239.

Edward, T. (1959). Hall, The Silent Language. Garden City, Nueva York.

Ewing, M., Men, L. R., & O’Neil, J. (2019). Using Social Media to Engage Employees: Insights from Internal Communication Managers. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 13(2), 110-132. doi:10.1080/1553118X.2019.1575830

Ferdous, R., Osmani, V., & Mayora, O. (2015). Smartphone app usage as a predictor of perceived stress levels at workplace. Paper presented at the 2015 9th International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare (PervasiveHealth).

Graffigna, G. (2017). Is a Transdisciplinary Theory of Engagement in Organized Settings Possible? A Concept Analysis of the Literature on Employee Engagement, Consumer Engagement and Patient Engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(872). doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00872

Hayase, L. K. T. (2009). Internal communication in organizations and employee engagement.

Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International a ‘ifierences in mark—related wines. In: Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Hofstede, G. (1983). The Cultural Relativity of Organizational Practices and Theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2), 75-89.

Holmes, K., Balnaves, M., & Wang, Y. (2015). Red Bags and WeChat (Wēixìn): Online collectivism during massive Chinese cultural events. Global Media Journal: Australian Edition, 9(1), 15-26.

Iqbal, M. (2020). Line Revenue and Usage Statistics (2020). Retrieved from https://www.businessofapps.com/data/line-statistics/#1

Käihkö, I. (2020). Conflict chatnography: Instant messaging apps, social media and conflict ethnography in Ukraine. Ethnography, 21(1), 71-91.

Kang, M., & Sung, M. (2017). How symmetrical employee communication leads to employee engagement and positive employee communication behaviors: The mediation of employee-organization relationships. Journal of Communication Management, 21(1), 82-102. doi:10.1108/JCOM-04-2016-0026

Karanges, E., Johnston, K., Beatson, A., & Lings, I. (2015). The influence of internal communication on employee engagement: A pilot study. Public Relations Review, 41(1), 129-131.

Kemper, E. A., Stringfield, S., & Teddlie, C. (2003). Mixed methods sampling strategies in social science research. Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioral research, 273-296.

Leesa-Ngauansuk, S. (2018). Thailand takes No.2 Line Today spot with 32m users. Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1470917/thailand-takes-no-2-line-today-spot-with-32m-users

Lien, C. H., & Cao, Y. (2014). Examining WeChat users’ motivations, trust, attitudes, and positive word-of-mouth: Evidence from China. Computers in Human Behavior, 41, 104-111.

Men, R. L., & Bowen, S. A. (2016). Excellence in internal communication management: Business Expert Press.

Nollet, K. E., Komazawa, T., & Ohto, H. (2016). Transfusion under triple threat: Lessons from Japan's 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, 55(2), 177-183.

Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric Theory (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

O’Neill, K., Hodgson, S., & Al Mazrouei, M. (2015). Employee engagement and internal communication: A United Arab Emirates study. Middle East Journal of Business, 55(2473), 1-26.

Osborne, S., & Hammoud, M. S. (2017). Effective employee engagement in the workplace. International Journal of Applied Management and Technology, 16(1), 50-67. doi:10.5590/IJAMT.2017.16.1.04

Pandita, D., & Ray, S. (2018). Talent management and employee engagement – a meta-analysis of their impact on talent retention. Industrial and Commercial Training, 50(4), 185-199. doi:10.1108/ICT-09-2017-0073

Puyod, J. V., & Charoensukmongkol, P. (2019). The contribution of cultural intelligence to the interaction involvement and performance of call center agents in cross-cultural communication. Management Research Review.

Salanova, M., Agut, S., & Peiró, J. M. (2005). Linking organizational resources and work engagement to employee performance and customer loyalty: the mediation of service climate. Journal of applied psychology, 90(6), 1217.

Schubert, G., & Alpermann, B. (2019). Studying the Chinese policy process in the era of ‘top-level design’: The contribution of ‘political steering’theory. Journal of Chinese Political Science, 24(2), 199-224.

Sheer, V. C., & Rice, R. E. (2017). Mobile instant messaging use and social capital: Direct and indirect associations with employee outcomes. Information & Management, 54(1), 90-102.

Tarsakoo, P., & Charoensukmongkol, P. (2019). Dimensions of social media marketing capabilities and their contribution to business performance of firms in Thailand. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 14(4), 441-461. doi:10.1108/JABS-07-2018-0204

Wamba, S. F., Edwards, A., & Akter, S. (2019). Social media adoption and use for improved emergency services operations: the case of the NSW SES. Annals of Operations Research, 283(1-2), 225-245.

Wang, S. S. (2016). More than words? The effect of line character sticker use on intimacy in the mobile communication environment. Social Science Computer Review, 34(4), 456-478.

Wu, J., Guo, S., Huang, H., Liu, W., & Xiang, Y. (2018). Information and communications technologies for sustainable development goals: state-of-the-art, needs and perspectives. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 20(3), 2389-2406.

Wu, P.-H., & Marek, M. (2016). Incorporating LINE Smartphone Affordances: Cross-Cultural Collaboration, Willingness to Communicate, and Language Learning. International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching (IJCALLT), 6(2), 56-73.

Young, M. (2015). Unseen Thailand Shorts, Festies, Line and DIY. TECHART: Journal of Arts and Imaging Science, 2(4), 9-16.

Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., & Griffin, M. (2013). Business research methods: Cengage Learning.

Published

24-05-2022

How to Cite

Villegas–Puyod, J., Phungsoonthorn, T., Sitthipo, P., & Aunyawong, W. (2022). The impact of cultural differences on LINE app communication among Thai and Chinese employees: Its effects on employee engagement. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S5), 367–384. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS5.7846

Issue

Section

Peer Review Articles