Analysis of Cultural Factors That Can Influence International Research Projects by Brazilian UNIFEI Professors in the United States

Abstract

Identifying and assessing the influence of cultural factors in international research and projects is a topic that is becoming increasingly relevant as the world continues to globalize. Cultural values that differ across the world have a deeper influence on everyday life than many people are normally aware of. The scientific contribution of this work will be in line with other publications found in the area of management of international cultural projects with a specific aim of what steps can be taken in order to better prepare individuals working overseas and maximize their productivity. The most common country studied in the context of intercultural project development is China. However, the present research aims to establish and develop this knowledge in the context of Brazilian professors doing research in the United States through means of a survey taken by eleven Brazilian professors and one doctoral student answering both open-ended and closed questions with a numeric rubric about their experiences in the US. The results of this project measured cultural factors related to personal life and everyday working issues in order to gain a better understanding of what cultural aspects are having the greatest influence on Brazilian professors conducting research in the US. The data, consistent with much of the literature consulted for this project, demonstrated that among other areas, communication, comfort in one’s everyday working and social life, and autonomy in the workplace were considered to be of the most importance areas for Brazilians living in the US.