Apologies for cross-posting...
I have compiled below the responses I received. Thank you to Ian Austin, Alan Fish, Gordon Lucyk, Shige Makino, Chang Hoon Oh, Chris Panas, Michael Pisani, József Poór, Winfried Ruigrok and Suzanne Wood.
Language Requirement for International Careers
Responses to question: Importance of knowing a foreign language to an international career
AIB, HRDiv, IMD listservs
REFERENCES
Fish, A. J., and Wood, J. 1997. "Cross-Cultural Management Competencies in Australian Business Enterprises", Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 35 (1): 37-52.
Respondents (Australian expatriates and repatriates with experience in Asia, and their organisations' executives) were asked to identify the importance of a set of management and cross-cultural competencies / skills. I then undertook EFA. As a result; a four factor solution was derived, one of which was 'Foreign Language Skills".
Vanderlesst, H.W. and Choe, S.T. 1995. "Answers to Questions About First Jobs in International Business", Mid-American Journal of Business, 10(2): 51-56.
Matus, R. and Poór, J. 2007. "Difficulties Faced by Japanese Expatriates in Transitional Environment", Revista de Management Comparat - International-Review of International
Comparative Management (Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest), 9: 179-189. You may also e-mail Dr. Poór József at poorjf@t-online.hu for a copy.
Chang Hoon Oh and W. Travis Selmier II. "Language Matters: -Languages' Effects on Trade and FDI?", paper being revised for journal submission – for a copy, e-mail Chang Hoon Oh at coh@brocku.ca.
OTHER RESOURCES
UK has the Regional Language Network and they have a number of reports on languages and their importance. You can have a look at the London site: http://www.rln-london.com. They have a facts & figures section in the resources section.
The CIBER Foreign Language Development site may have some information. http://ciberweb.msu.edu/language/
From: Winfried Ruigrok
In Europe language requirements are an obvious necessity for international business students. You may be aware of the CEMS alliance. CEMS graduates are expected (and tested) to be able to interact in two foreign languages at a very high level: http://www.cems.org/general/index.php
At the St.Gallen MBA programme we offer (and test) German language courses to non-German-speaking foreign students. Language capabilities are one selection criterion and on average our MBA students are fluent in three languages: www.mba.unisg.ch.
From: LT Suzanne J. Wood, PhD, MS, FACHE
You may want to look into government and military service studies that discuss the use of foreign language in international business.
Within the military setting, and strategically, having the skill is certainly an individual competitive advantage. Anecdotally, I have found that when in a foreign country, demonstrations of respect and attempting to communicate in the host country's language have proved beneficial in terms of relationship-building.
OTHER COMMENTS
One of the hottest recent business news in Japan is Rakuten's decision to make English its official in-house language, which has created a lot of debates among business leaders in Japan.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/rakuten-to-make-english-official-in-house-language-by-end-of-2012
From: Ian AUSTIN
I have just supervised a Honours student who interviewed Australian professionals across Indonesia and the question of language competency came up time and again. Due to the time restraints on Honours program, the interview numbers were around 15, but the length and depth was sound.
The conclusions from the professionals was that it was incredibly useful, but not essential to business success across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Language will assist, but is not a necessity as other business factors play a stronger role.
From: Gordon Lucyk
Our IB major was going through the same issues in 2008. I put together a series of questions for the AIB community and received the responses per the attached document. More anecdotal than empirical but does give a feel for the issues.
I also did a summary of the language requirements for Canadian U/G programs which I also have attached and you may find useful.
[For a copy of any of the documents, please e-mail Gordon Lucyk, LucykG@macewan.ca.