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Article
When Cultures Clash Electronically: The Impact of Email and Social Norms on Negotiation Behavior and Outcomes
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
  • Zoe Barsness, University of Washington Tacoma
  • Ashleigh Shelby Rosette
  • Jeanne M. Brett
  • Anne L. Lytle
Publication Date
5-1-2012
Abstract

This research examines the extent to which the email medium exacerbates the aggressiveness of opening offers made by negotiators from two distinct cultures. Hypotheses derived from negotiation, communication, and culture research predict that Hong Kong Chinese negotiators using email would exhibit a reactance effect and consequently engage in more aggressive opening offers and claim higher distributive outcomes than similar negotiators in the United States. Study 1 examines intercultural email negotiations and results indicate that Hong Kong Chinese negotiators made more aggressive opening offers and attained higher distributive outcomes than their U.S. counterparts. Study 2 results replicate Study 1 findings in an intracultural negotiation setting and also show favorable outcomes for Hong Kong email negotiators when compared to both Hong Kong and U.S. face-to-face negotiators. Overall, the findings suggest that Hong Kong Chinese and U.S. negotiators vary substantially in how they negotiate via email and face to face, which results in differences in distributive outcomes.

DOI
10.1177/0022022111407190
Publisher Policy
pre-print, post-print (with 12 month embargo)
Citation Information
Zoe Barsness, Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, Jeanne M. Brett and Anne L. Lytle. "When Cultures Clash Electronically: The Impact of Email and Social Norms on Negotiation Behavior and Outcomes" Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology Vol. 43 Iss. 4 (2012) p. 628 - 643
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/zoe-barsness/4/