A strategic contingency approach to expatriate assignment management

Authors: Caligiuri, Paula M.; Colakoglu, Saba

Source: Human Resource Management Journal, Volume 17, Number 4, November 2007 , pp. 393-410(18)

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Abstract:

This exploratory study examines how expatriate management practices differ with respect to three international management strategies (local, centralised or global) in 27 mature multinational corporations. In particular, this study examines the categories of expatriate assignments, the strategic integration of expatriate assignments into leadership development and the types of human resource practices that firms utilise to manage expatriates. Results indicate that organisations differentially assign expatriates based on the firm's respective international management strategy. Firms with a global management strategy made greater use of developmental expatriates, had a greater number of senior managers with expatriate experience and had a stronger focus on leadership development through expatriation. Firms did not differ with respect to their use of expatriate management practices based on their international management strategy.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2007.00052.x

Affiliations: 1: Human Resource Management Department, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Publication date: 2007-11-01