Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the psychological resources which foster thriving in multicultural work settings of multinational corporations (MNCs) - the companies that are evident manifestation of globalization. Although globalized multicultural workplace creates specific job demands that pose unique occupational stress to individuals, some personal resources enable them to deal with these demands and to thrive. Thriving is the experience of an individual's growth resulted from both vitality and learning in a work context. In the qualitative explorative research the information was gained via semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 38 respondents working in subsidiaries of two MNCs located in Poland. The study presented here is a part of the research entitled "Cross-cultural interactions in foreign subsidiaries of multinational corporations traditional and Positive Organizational Scholarship approaches" (No. DEC-2013/09/B/HS4/00498, the National Science Centre, Poland). The results demonstrate that those individuals who thrive in the globalized workplace more frequently assess their specific job demands as challenges than hindrances. They also feel more positive than negative emotions. Thriving people activate their personal resources such as curiosity, openness and positive attitudes all of which increase their vitality. Although more effort is needed to deal with cultural diversity in the globalized workplace, those individuals are motivated for long learning, which facilitates their occupational and personal development. Thriving people activate their personal resources to face their challenges, which, in turn, enhances their learning and personal growth. The results of the study are discussed with regard to the transactional stress theory and Positive Psychological Capital.

Authors (2)