Olivier Maugain

The Six C's for Success of Multicultural R&d Teams: Insights from Cern Physicists Olivier Maugain

This book identifies and interrelates six factors elucidating the success of multicultural research and development (R&D) teams. At this, it integrates three distinct areas - R&D management, multicultural management, and team management. In a conceptual part, the author filters out key elements from these disciplines by analysing the "why" (reasons), the "who" (actors), the "what" (purpose), and the "how" (means) of multicultural R&D teams. The six success factors (composition, connection, co-opetition, conversation, captaining, and chemistry) are derived from this breakdown. An empirical part then tests and adds further substance to these findings by looking into an international research project hosted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Based on the prior two sections, the dissertation puts forward a number of conjectural propositions as well as a theoretical model explaining the success of multicultural R&D teams. The investigation culminates with specific practical recommendations destined to any professional (researchers, engineers, managers, etc.) exposed to such teams.