Managing Staff on International Assignments: A Strategic Guide

by Forster, Nick

• ISBN13: 9780273645061
• ISBN10: 0273645064
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Trans-Atlantic Pubns

Summary

In today's global workplace, many companies have staff posted on international assignments (IAs). The training, development and management of these staff are critical to the success or failure of the companies' overseas activities. Yet, according to a recent Arthur Anderson report, the handling of ex-pat staff by many British companies leaves much to be desired. This briefing reveals the findings of extensive research conducted across 36 UK companies, with both expatriates and HR managers involved in the management of expatriate staff. It examines the different methods by which UK companies identify, train and develop expatriate managers and looks at ways of developing more strategic expatriate management policies. The report provides the reader with a clear guide to effective ex-pat management planning, from selection through to repatriation, supported by numerous checklists and diagrams throughout. Contents include: Preparing staff and their dependants for international assignments Settling in and cultural acclimatisation How IAs affect professional, personal and family life Ex-pat policies in companies new to the international scene A new 'glass ceiling'? Managing repatriation A strategic guide to managing IAs

Table of Contents

List of figures	ix
List of tables	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Introduction	xv
Executive summary	xvii
Expatriate management in context: the globalisation of business	1	(12)
Introduction	3	(3)
Making sense of the `globalisation' debate	6	(3)
Implications for international HR strategies and expatriate management policies	9	(2)
Conclusion: the future of expatriate management	11	(2)
Preparing staff and their dependants for international assignments (Time 1)	13	(30)
Executive summary	15	(1)
Introduction	15	(1)
Selection procedures for international assignments	16	(3)
Language and cross-cultural training	19	(2)
Discussion	21	(19)
Policy recommendations	40	(1)
Conclusion	41	(2)
Settling into the international assignment and cultural acclimatisation (Time 2)	43	(26)
Executive summary	45	(1)
Introduction	46	(1)
Discussion	46	(19)
Policy recommendations	65	(4)
How international assignments affect professional, personal and family life (Time 3)	69	(22)
Executive summary	71	(1)
Introduction	72	(1)
Discussion	72	(15)
Policy recommendations	87	(2)
Conclusion	89	(2)
Expatriate management policies in companies new to the international scene	91	(20)
Executive summary	93	(1)
Introduction	93	(1)
Discussion	94	(10)
Three case study examples	104	(6)
Conclusion	110	(1)
Managing women on international assignments	111	(20)
Executive summary	113	(1)
Introduction: women in international management	114	(1)
Discussion	114	(15)
Conclusion	129	(2)
Managing repatriation	131	(16)
Executive summary	133	(1)
Introduction	133	(1)
Discussion	134	(10)
Policy recommendations	144	(1)
Conclusion	145	(2)
Managing international assignments in the future	147	(2)
The lessons learned about expatriate management in UK companies	149	(2)
Individual planning	151	(2)
Conclusion	153	(4)
Appendices
1 Further information on expatriate management	157	(2)
2 Research methodologies	159	(4)
3 References and further reading on expatriate management	163