Motivation for Work and Cross-Cultural Barriers in the Workplace: A Case Study of Graduates of the Arts Program in Japanese and Communication, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to study the motivation and cross-cultural barriers in the workplace of the graduates of Arts Program in Japanese and Communication, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand. The research used a qualitative research methodology by conducting in-depth interviews with two groups of informants, including 1) 15 graduates working in Japanese companies in Thailand and 2) 15 graduates working in Japan. The results of the study found that the most identified motivation of graduates working in Japanese companies in Thailand was a personal factor—the desire to work in a field related to their studies, whereas the most identified motivation of the graduates working in Japan was also their a personal factor—the desire to gain life and working experience in Japan. Moreover, the results of the study on the problems and obstacles in cross-cultural work revealed two obstacles as follows: 1) obstacles about knowledge and thinking, which were caused by not understanding or not knowing the common the language, lacking knowledge about the culture, especially the Ho-Ren-So principle, as well as differences in perceptions and thinking about punctuality, the processes/steps of work, behavior in the workplace, the roles and responsibilities of those with high positions/salaries, and principles of service provision; 2) obstacles about attitudes and feelings, where both groups put their own culture at the center of evaluation on Japanese people, leading to negative attitudes as a result.