All pain, little gain? Reframing the value of international assignments

Authors: Welch, Denice¹; Steen, Adam²; Tahvanainen, Marja³

Source: International Journal of Human Resource Management, Volume 20, Number 6, June 2009 , pp. 1327-1343(17)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

It has long been recognised that international assignments play an important strategic role in a company's portfolio of global staffing options. However, there has been limited work that demonstrates how companies measure their return on investment (ROI) from international assignments. In this article, we present the results of a two-country study of nine multinational companies that questions the use of measures such as return-on-investment (ROI). Rather, we reframe how international assignments are considered and contend that the concept of intellectual capital best captures the true worth - to organisations and individuals - of international assignments.

Keywords: HR function; human capital; intellectual capital; international assignments; repatriates; ROI; social capital

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09585190902909855

Affiliations: 1: Melbourne Business School, Australia, Carlton, Victoria, Australia 2: Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia 3: Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland

Publication date: 2009-06-01

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