Factors affecting expatriate performance
Ágai, Noémi (2015)
Kuvaus
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Tiivistelmä
Purpose- No company today, regardless of size and industry, is isolated from the impact of globalization. Recently, there has been rapid increase in global activity and global competition. At the same time, managers and employees from headquarters and regional centres of multinational companies (MNCs) are posted abroad in large numbers. Today, short and long term international assignments (IAs) are thus part of the job. Building on the above described phenomenon the aim of the present thesis is to identify the main factors that contribute to international assignees’ job performance and result in success or failure. Additionally, the paper also aims to provide the reader with deep insight on the role of such factors. Understanding cause and effect that predict expatriate performance outcome is particularly important because such assignments have significant financial and emotional consequences, both for the MNC and for the individual as well, especially if it ends as a failure.
Design/methodology/approach- Two-fold exploratory mixed method research design was deployed within the empirical study to find answer to the research question and to reach the research objectives through 16 semi-structured interviews with expatriates (non-assisted awareness). Respondents were further asked to fill out an online survey in which they were asked to evaluate certain skills/abilties (assisted awareness) based on their perceptions.
Findings- By applying content analysis the difficulties faced by international assignees are primarily related to general adjustment to the new environment, which greatly determines the outcome of any international assignment. The successful acquisition of it yields job satisfaction, while the lack of such ability can be a root of overall dissatisfaction and poor performance. Furthermore, applying basic statistical analysis it was confirmed by the survey results with 90,69% of respondents expressing agreement on it. Communication skills proved to be second most important affecting factor, while less importance was attributed to technical skills and family factors.
Research limitations- There are a number of limitations to this study that should be acknowledged. Due to time constraint convenient and volunteer sampling (nonprobability sampling) were applied in which assigned expatriates and self-initiated expatriates were both studied, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. Another limitation is that findings are based on self-reports, without having any feedback/ evaluation from local employees or direct bosses.
Value of the study- Present study provides suggestions for managers-to-be on how to prepare for any upcoming international assignment. It also serves as useful base for HR departments and their selecting proccesses.
Design/methodology/approach- Two-fold exploratory mixed method research design was deployed within the empirical study to find answer to the research question and to reach the research objectives through 16 semi-structured interviews with expatriates (non-assisted awareness). Respondents were further asked to fill out an online survey in which they were asked to evaluate certain skills/abilties (assisted awareness) based on their perceptions.
Findings- By applying content analysis the difficulties faced by international assignees are primarily related to general adjustment to the new environment, which greatly determines the outcome of any international assignment. The successful acquisition of it yields job satisfaction, while the lack of such ability can be a root of overall dissatisfaction and poor performance. Furthermore, applying basic statistical analysis it was confirmed by the survey results with 90,69% of respondents expressing agreement on it. Communication skills proved to be second most important affecting factor, while less importance was attributed to technical skills and family factors.
Research limitations- There are a number of limitations to this study that should be acknowledged. Due to time constraint convenient and volunteer sampling (nonprobability sampling) were applied in which assigned expatriates and self-initiated expatriates were both studied, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. Another limitation is that findings are based on self-reports, without having any feedback/ evaluation from local employees or direct bosses.
Value of the study- Present study provides suggestions for managers-to-be on how to prepare for any upcoming international assignment. It also serves as useful base for HR departments and their selecting proccesses.