Language choice in international intermediary organizations. A case Study of the HCC Department at the Port of Rotterdam
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2024-06-27
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en
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This thesis delves into the research question: ‘’How does the language of communication within an intermediary organization, such as Port Authorities, affect stakeholders’ perception on its legitimacy?’’. Using the Port of Rotterdam (POR) as a case study, this research shows the complexities intermediaries face in balancing the interests of local and global stakeholders between linguistic diversity and institutional differences.
The research identifies coercive and normative pressures, the economic environment, and internal resources, particularly English proficiency, as significant influencers of stakeholders’ legitimacy perceptions. It is crucial for intermediaries to understand that each stakeholder experiences these pressures differently, leading to potential conflicting pressures. A key finding is the collective impact of these pressures on a stakeholder as an individual entity and the effect on their legitimacy perceptions. The weight assigned to each pressure is important, as some pressures carry more weight than others. If an intermediary’s choices align with these constraints, the problem of conflicting pressures shifts to the stakeholder’s internal processes. While some pressures might negatively impact the legitimacy perception of language choice, others may contribute positively, potentially outweighing the negative ones.
This study makes both theoretical and practical contributions. It expands the institutional isomorphic pressures framework by integrating two components. Furthermore, it highlights the value of interdisciplinary research by integrating insights from linguistic, communication and business studies. The findings provide practical insights for intermediaries, underlining the importance of understanding these dynamics to effectively navigate the complexity of real-world phenomena. These insights are instrumental in guiding various strategic decisions for intermediaries, particularly in areas such as stakeholder engagement and communication strategies. Additionally, this study highlights the challenge of intermediaries in balancing potential conflicting pressures within the institutional environment and the collective impact of these pressures on stakeholders’ legitimacy perceptions. This understanding is important for intermediaries to effectively operate within their complex linguistic environment while balancing the interests of local and global stakeholders.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen