G-Lab-2b - Research Project - Phase #1

RESEARCH (Phase 1) and LITERATURE REVIEW

The ECOOPx model emerged through extensive documentary research combined with empirical field experiences in diverse intercultural and international contexts. Preliminary research involved analyzing past and current global conflicts, intercultural cooperation in academic environments (involving over 1,000 international students from 50 countries across three universities), and cooperation in international business settings spanning, 20 companies, 12 countries on four continents.

Key theoretical frameworks shaping the ECOOPx model include:

Several foundational theories and frameworks underpin the ECOOPx Model, each critically evaluated regarding its relevance and applicability to cooperation dynamics.

Hartmut Rosa’s Resonance Theory provides valuable insights into meaningful societal connections and deeper collaborative interactions. Geert Hofstede’s Intercultural Dimensions, although foundational, are critically assessed due to their static and somewhat outdated portrayal of cultural dynamics. Similarly, Robert Axelrod’s Evolution of Cooperation serves as a reference but is simultaneously challenged for reducing cooperative behaviors exclusively to self-interested motivations. Johan Galtung’s Conflict Triangle is integrated into the model, providing a nuanced understanding of conflict through the interplay between attitudes, behaviors, and structural factors, thereby enriching the analysis of intercultural conflicts. Joel Barker’s Shared Vision contributes positively by emphasizing collective alignment through empathy and creativity, while John Kotter’s Transformational Change offers structured steps toward organizational cooperation and adaptability. Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking strengthens the model by encouraging creative problem-solving in contexts of conflict. Byung-Chul Han’s critical exploration in The Burnout Society sheds light on societal fatigue as a barrier to cooperation, complemented by Hannah Arendt’s insights into collective and individual responsibility, emphasizing ethical accountability within cooperative practices. Finally, Paul Watzlawick‘s axioms of communication and Claes Janssen’s Four Rooms of Change model illuminate dynamics of resistance and transformative change management within cooperative contexts, further enriching the analytical depth of the ECOOPx Model.

Additionally, frameworks such as VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) and BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) comprehensively define and contextualize contemporary crises and conflicts, highlighting the multidimensional challenges that hinder cooperation.