WORK CROSS-CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT OF THAI ENGINEERS: A CASE STUDY OF EXPERIENCED ENGINEERS IN ASEAN COUNTRY

Abstract

This study aims to understand the factors conditions and results associated with work cross-cultural adjustment of Thai engineers by using the data obtained from in-depth interviews with 6 Thai-engineers who have experience working in ASEAN countries to analyze according to the content analysis method. The results show that there are 3 phases of work cross-cultural adjustment as 1) phase before going to work in ASEAN countries 2) phase during working in ASEAN and 3) phase returning to work in Thailand which each phase found internal conditions that are personal characteristics of Thai engineers and external conditions that are actions of colleagues, organizations and the environment. And also found the influence of time that has played a role in the conditions of work cross-cultural adjustment of Thai engineers. There are some factors that are the result of the dynamics of investment and labor movement that are the core values ​​of the organization that come from investing in ASEAN member countries of foreign companies, and the work culture of colleagues from various countries. For the results related to the work cross-cultural adjustment of Thai engineers are found both the effects to the Thai engineers and the effects to the organization.