The effect of ethnic diversity on expatriate managers in their host country

Susan Freeman and Sarah Lindsay

International Business Review, 2012, vol. 21, issue 2, 253-268

Abstract: Expatriate managers often encounter considerable obstacles in their overseas workplaces. While there is significant research on expatriate management and adjustment, relying on social identity and acculturation theories, little research addresses the expatriate experience of ethnic diversity in the host country. To address this gap, the aim of this study is to explore how Australian expatriate managers interpret their experience of working in a new and ethnically diverse workplace in Malaysia. The qualitative analysis suggests that the key to performing in such a context lies in the individual's ability to change and adapt beyond culture and language skills. The key managerial implication is that cross-cultural training can assist with the development of personal attributes by expatriate managers involved in ethnically diverse workplaces. Implications for future research are provided.

Keywords: Cross-cultural competence; Expatriates; Personal attributes; Phenomenology; Social identity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2011.03.001

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