Stress and Burnout in Bicultural Teams in Hi-tech Industry

This study examined burnout, stress and work importance among 120 Israelis working in binational teams, using quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (semi-structured interview) methodologies. Based on the existential perspective, the study documented low levels of burnout despite high levels of stress, which were explained by the high perceived importance of the work. Hierarchical regression showed that importance moderated the effect of stress on burnout. Findings also revealed that the unexpected social stressors associated with cultural differences between team members were more stressful than the stressors associated with high-tech work.