The Interpretive Work of Offshore Professionals in Intercultural Collaborations

Globally distributed arrangements that span Western and emerging countries have become increasingly common in knowledge intensive work. In these collaborations, it is often assumed that macro level structural inequalities are a major source of difficulty for coordination and knowledge sharing. However, we know surprisingly little about how professionals in emerging countries negotiate these inequalities in their daily work practice. To address this gap, we collected qualitative data from interviews with Indian IT professionals working in offshore consulting companies. We find that offshore professionals interpret inequalities and resulting workplace tensions with Western clients and colleagues as originating from differences in national culture. Contrary to our expectations, this interpretation does not carry negative connotations, but is rather framed as a professional development towards a higher global ideal. By developing strategies – cultural flexibility, business skills, and consulting skills – to alleviate these tensions, they re-conceptualize adaptation as a path towards realizing professional identity – characterized by visibility, international exposure, and learning – with the potential to improve their employability and work quality.