‘Getting to know themselves and yourself’: understanding and accessing the colleague culture of personnel in Thai multinational corporations that invest in Myanmar

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the characteristics of knowing us, knowing them, understanding, and accessing the culture of colleagues and related factors, along with guidelines for promoting and developing learning for personnel in Thai multinational corporations  investing in Myanmar. This further develops the study "Managing Cultural Diversity in Multinational Cooperations: Case Studies of Burmese Laborers’ Working Culture in Thai Companies in Myanmar” according to learning and other related concepts. Qualitative research methods were used to collect document data from government agencies and the private sector in Thailand and Myanmar. Field data from target groups in Myanmar were collected by interview method based on questionnaires from target groups, namely companies uncluding two large Thai multinationals that have invested in the period of 5-10 years, one medium-sized investment for 3-5 years, and 11 small companies, studied in Yangon and related contexts. The results of the analysis revealed that there are two aspects of knowing us, knowing them, understanding, and accessing coworkers' culture which are learning through community research processes according to the company's action plan and learning through knowing the definitions of participation and actual participation. The desirable outcome of role-based work depends on the key factor, the educational system of the society. Thus, one should learn in parallel with the work, learn from the learning experience according to the action plan of the corporation, and be aware of guidelines for promotion and development. Furthermore, the company should have a learning management plan for personnel plans for activities to promote the learning of colleague's culture and plans for activities to enhance knowledge. The organization and related parties should pay more attention to fostering awareness of the shared culture among Thai people.