Explore the role of psychic distance in order to understand the challenges of managing remote foreign teachers in China’s English-language training firms

Abstract

The lack of foreign teachers makes effective management of remote foreign teachers be necessary for Chinese language training companies. The aim of this research is to explore the role of psychic distance and identify the challenges related to psychic distance in remote foreign teacher management in order to understand the challenges being faced in a more comprehensive way. To meet the research aims, this dissertation was based on an extensive review of relevant literature and the implementation of empirical research that was conducted through a case study strategy by using semi-structured interviews with remote foreign teachers and Chinese managers. This research generated a number of findings: the mechanism by which psychic distance plays its role in the remote management of foreign teachers lies in the effective communication between teachers and managers; Foreign teachers and Chinese managers have different views on cultural distance and its influence; Chinese government policies in the administrative distance are vague in terms of remote foreign teacher management; Time difference and network problems are the predominant challenges caused by geography; high human resource cost is not the leading challenge associated with economic distance. The main conclusions drawn from this study include: both managers’ and team members’ perception are important; although both managers and teachers realize the existence of cultural differences, managers haven’t paid adequate attention to them in management; administrative distance with changing Chinese government policies which could directly affect online foreign teacher management which is uncontrollable; Geographic distance challenged managers more than foreign teachers; economic distance caused high operating costs for companies. This dissertation recommends that a sound communication mechanism should be established internally; taking culture-related training as a part of work in daily management; managers need to pay attention to government policies and update relevant news with foreign teachers; remote foreign teachers should be managed as a team, and should start with recruiting suitable candidates and establishing a reasonable promotion system to control operating costs.