Selecting Expatriates for Personality Characteristics: A Moderating Effect of Personality on the Relationship Between Host National Contact and Cross-cultural Adjustment

2017 ◽  
pp. 33-52
Author(s):  
Paula M. Caligiuri
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
The Relationship

Cross-cultural adjustment and expatriation motives among Indian expatriates

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja B. Vijayakumar ◽  
Christopher J. L. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Oblique Rotation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Globalization has led to individuals working and living outside their native country. The purpose of this paper is to examine relationship between motives for expatriation and cross-cultural adjustment in Indian expatriates working in the US information technology (IT) industry. Additionally, the moderating effects of self-initiated expatriates (SIE) and organizational expatriates (OE) on the relationship between motives for expatriation and cross-cultural adjustment were studied. Also, existing measures in this area of research were analyzed to improve validity and utility for future studies. Participants responded to questions via an internet survey. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from 336 Indian IT professionals working in America. The authors evaluated the psychometric quality of reasons for expatriation and cross-cultural adjustment measures by considering various fit statistics, modification indices and rational judgment based on item content. The authors used a maximum likelihood extraction method with an oblique rotation (Geomin) for these factor analyses, given the theoretically and empirically supported relationship between the subdimensions of both measures. Using these purified measures, a hierarchical regression analyses procedure was used to test the hypothesized relationships. A computational tool called PROCESS was used to test the hypothesized moderating effect of expatriate type on the relationship between motives for expatriation and cross-cultural adjustment. Findings Preliminary factor analytic work suggested modifications to the reasons for expatriation measure used to quantify participants’ motives for expatriation. Using this revised measure, those with stronger financial (mercenary) motives for expatriation also reported less positive cultural adjustment, while those with stronger exploratory motives for expatriation reported more positive cultural adjustment. Some evidence was also observed for a weak, but notable moderating effect of expatriate type (SIE vs OE) on the relationship between expatriation motives and cultural adjustment. Originality/value This study presents a revised measure of expatriation motives, as well as expanded theoretical and empirical evidence base to help future researchers working with expatriates. The findings may be also helpful to organizations and consultants who work to prepare expatriates for their assignments, especially when these expatriates are Indian professionals preparing to work in the USA.

Host country language skills and expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment in the presence of fear of terror

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Paulus ◽  
Katrin Muehlfeld
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Terrorist Threat ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Threat Level ◽  
Threat Levels ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between host country (HC) language skills, fear of terror, and cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) of expatriates based in host countries with different terrorist threat levels. Design/methodology/approach Integrating the expatriate adjustment framework by Black et al. (1991) with social identity theory-based literature, this study first, theorizes about the effects of both fear of terror and HC language proficiency on CCA and, second, puts forward the moderating effect of the actual terrorist threat level on the relationship between HC language proficiency and fear of terror. Hypotheses are tested using survey data of 116 expatriates based in host countries with different threat levels. Findings HC language proficiency is positively associated with CCA. Yet, it is also positively associated with fear of terror, which is, in turn, negatively related to CCA. Consequently, the beneficial effect of HC language skills on CCA is reduced in environments where expatriates experience significant fear of terror. While the actual threat level has a direct positive effect on fear of terror, it also positively moderates the relationship between HC language proficiency and fear of terror. Originality/value This study extends prior literature on expatriation to dangerous environments by zooming in on a specific type of risk factor associated with international assignments, i.e., terrorism, and by integrating HC language proficiency and fear of terror as important factors, which may influence CCA in contexts in which expatriates experience significant fear of terror.

scholarly journals Behavioral and Personality Predictors of Acceptance and Rejection in University

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (68) ◽  
pp. 272-280
Author(s):  
Daniel Bartholomeu ◽  
José Maria Montiel
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
Personality Predictors ◽  
The Social ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract: Acceptance and rejection in the group are related to both personality characteristics and social skills and most studies focus on children instead of college students. The objective of this study was to investigate whether acceptance and rejection would be more associated with personality tendencies, specifically socialization or social skills. We collected data from 187 college students attending the Physical Education (67%) and Psychology (32%) courses. The instruments were the sociometric test, the Factorial Scale of Socialization and the Social Skills Inventory. A moderating effect of gender in the relationship between assertiveness and acceptance and rejection to go out on college was observed. Social skills were better predictors of acceptance and social rejection in the university group.

scholarly journals Personality And Expatriate Performance: The Mediating Role Of Expatriate Adjustment

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subramaniam Sri Ramalu ◽  
Raduan Che Rose ◽  
Naresh Kumar ◽  
Jegak Uli
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
The Body ◽  
Expatriate Adjustment ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Cross Cultural Management ◽  
The Relationship

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">This paper investigates the relationship between personality and job performance, and the mediating role of cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) in that relationship. Based on sample of 332 expatriates working in Malaysia, personality predicts job performance, and both the interaction and work adjustment mediates the relationship. The findings of this study contributes to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural management field as well as practical implication to expatriating firms especially in the area of selection of international candidates.</span></p>

Cross-Cultural Adaptation: The Impact of Online Social Support and the Role of Gender

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jian-Zhong Hong ◽  
Zhong-Ling Pi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Cross Cultural Adaptation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the impact of online social support on cross-cultural adaptation, and the moderating effect of gender in the relationship between online social support and cross-cultural adaptation. Data were collected from 454 international students in China using the Psychological Adaptation Questionnaire, the Socio-Cultural Adaptation Scale, and the Online Social Support Scale. The results showed that: (a) online social support had a positive impact on both the psychological and sociocultural adaptation of the international students, and (b) compared with the men, the impact of online social support on psychological adaptation was more significant for the women, showing that gender moderated this relationship. However, the same moderating effect of gender was not found in the relationship between online social support and sociocultural adaptation.

scholarly journals Job Satisfaction Affecting Cross-Cultural Adjustment in Taiwanese Expatriates

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Chen (Chiu-Yi/Joy) Lee
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
First Century ◽  
International Assignments ◽  
World Markets ◽  
The Relationship

By means of the increasing global competition and internationalization of world markets, international expatriates assignments are more and more essential to successful worldwide development for many multinational corporations. Therefore, international expatriates are imperative to the survival of globe enterprises in the twenty-first century. Expatriates can become an important human resource to international enterprises or multinational operations. Also, for the past two decades, research has examined a variety of correlates for the performance problems and dissatisfaction associated with global assignment. To facilitate business expatriates adjust to an overseas environment and work effectively, Multinational Corporations (MNCs) need to recognise the expatriates’ job satisfaction factor to affect cross-cultural adjustment. The main purpose of this study is utilising previous researcher Lee’s (2002) questionnaire to investigate the relationship between the job satisfaction and cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese Banks’ expatriates assigned to America, and this study employed same questionnaire to examine the relationship between the job satisfaction and cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese expatriates in several different industries assigned to Mainland China. Also, the empirical outcomes were compared between Taiwanese expatriates located in Mainland China and United States.In examining the significant degree of Taiwanese expatriates assigned to Mainland China, the instrument was a questionnaire survey conducted to this study. The variables of interest were measured using items Likert-type questions, and those items are divided into seven categories. Data collected from 353 participants who have experience of a posting to Mainland China for international assignments. Multiple regression and correlation were employed to analyse data.The statistical results of this study were compared Lee’s (2002) research that associated with Taiwanese banking expatriates in United States. Both studies indicated that the expatriates’ job satisfaction factor to affect cross-cultural adjustment without doubt. This thesis concludes with suggestions for both international enterprises or MNCs and individual expatriate who operate overseas journey in their normal path of business.

scholarly journals Family Support as a Factor in Cultural Adjustment

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Chen (Chiu-Yi/Joy) Lee
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Expatriate Adjustment ◽  
The Family ◽  
Support Factor ◽  
The Relationship

Following the growing worldwide competition and internationalisation of globe markets, international expatriates’ assignments are become more and more essential to successful worldwide development for many multinational corporations. Therefore, expatriates can become an important human resource to international enterprises or multinational operations. Especially, investigating the influential factors as family support of expatriate adjustment is significant for several reasons. Firstly, failure of expatriate adjustment may cause premature return from overseas assignments, which may be very costly financially for international enterprises. Secondly, failure to accomplish the plan of the assignment is as harmful to the expatriate as it is to the parent and host companies. Inability of an expatriate to complete the assignment is likely to damage his or her self-esteem, and self-confidence, and cause a loss of prestige among co-workers. Thirdly, an unsuccessful period of expatriation is likely to decrease both the subsequent commitment to the parent company.Therefore, to facilitate business expatriates adjustment to an overseas environment and to enable them to work effectively, Multinational Corporations (MNCs) need to recognise the expatriates’ family support factor to affect cross-cultural adjustment. The main purpose of this study involves utilising previous researcher Lee’s (2002) questionnaire to investigate the relationship between the family support and cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese Banks’ expatriates assigned to America, and this study employed same questionnaire to examine the relationship between the family and cross-cultural adjustment of Taiwanese expatriates in several different industries assigned to Mainland China. Also, the empirical outcomes were compared between Taiwanese expatriates located in Mainland China and United States. In examining the significant degree of Taiwanese expatriates assigned to Mainland China, the instrument was a questionnaire survey conducted to this study. The variables of interest were measured using items Likert-type questions, and those items are divided into seven categories. Data collected from 353 participants who have experience of a posting to Mainland China for international assignments. Multiple regression and correlation were employed to analyse data.The statistical results of this study were compared Lee’s (2002) research that associated with Taiwanese banking expatriates in United States. Both studies indicated that the expatriates’ family support factor to affect cross-cultural adjustment without doubt. This article concludes with suggestions for both international enterprises or MNCs and individual expatriate who operate overseas journey in their normal path of business.

Exploring the potential effects of expatriate adjustment direction

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Edward Oczkowski
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Cultural Distance ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Potential Importance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expatriate Adjustment ◽  
Explicit Consideration ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The expansion of the phenomenon of two-way flow expatriation due to the accelerated process of globalization has resulted in an increasing need for a better understanding of cross-cultural transitions. Given the absence of convincing a priori theoretical explanations, as part of an inductive discovery process, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between cultural intelligence (CQ), job position, and cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) for expatriates. Design/methodology/approach – Explicit consideration is given to uncovering the potential importance of cultural distance asymmetry (CDA) effects. Structural equation modelling techniques are employed to analyse survey data from a two-flow sample of expatriates between Australia and China. Findings – Results indicate that motivational CQ has a statistically significant effect on CCA. CDA is found to moderate the relationship between job positions and expatriate adjustment, such that the relationship depends on the direction of cultural flow between more and less authoritarian cultural contexts. Originality/value – These findings discover and highlight the potential importance of identifying the direction of cultural flows of expatriation in understanding successful expatriates’ CCA.

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