IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/worbus/v43y2008i1p109-126.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Individual differences and expatriate assignment effectiveness: The case of U.S.-based Korean expatriates

Author

Listed:
  • Kim, Kwanghyun
  • Slocum Jr., John W.

Abstract

The paper examines the relationships among individual differences, cross-cultural adjustment, and expatriate assignment effectiveness, using a field survey of U.S.-based Korean expatriates. Overall, the findings are consistent with the literature and support previous findings. However, a unique and interesting pattern was found, revealing that how well the expatriates adjusted to the assignment was not related to their premature return intention. This finding is attributed to Korean society's tight cultural norms, expectancy for positive career outcomes when completing such assignments, and desire to provide diverse educational opportunities and life experiences for their children and family when staying in the preferred assignment destination. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Kwanghyun & Slocum Jr., John W., 2008. "Individual differences and expatriate assignment effectiveness: The case of U.S.-based Korean expatriates," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 109-126, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:43:y:2008:i:1:p:109-126
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951607000764
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. J Stewart Black, 1988. "Work Role Transitions: A Study of American Expatriate Managers in Japan," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 19(2), pages 277-294, June.
    2. Jun, Sunkyu & Gentry, James W., 2005. "An exploratory investigation of the relative importance of cultural similarity and personal fit in the selection and performance of expatriates," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 1-8, February.
    3. Zhang, Marina Y. & Dodgson, Mark, 2007. ""A roasted duck can still fly away": A case study of technology, nationality, culture and the rapid and early internationalization of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 336-349, September.
    4. Bossard, Annette B. & Peterson, Richard B., 2005. "The repatriate experience as seen by American expatriates," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 9-28, February.
    5. Earl Naumann, 1993. "Organizational Predictors of expatriate Job Satisfaction," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 24(1), pages 61-80, March.
    6. Dickmann, Michael & Harris, Hilary, 2005. "Developing career capital for global careers: The role of international assignments," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 399-408, November.
    7. Jeffrey P Shay & Sally A Baack, 2004. "Expatriate assignment, adjustment and effectiveness: an empirical examination of the big picture," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(3), pages 216-232, May.
    8. Margaret A Shaffer & David A Harrison & K Matthew Gilley, 1999. "Dimensions, Determinants, and Differences in the Expatriate Adjustment Process," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(3), pages 557-581, September.
    9. Carr, Stuart C. & Inkson, Kerr & Thorn, Kaye, 2005. "From global careers to talent flow: Reinterpreting 'brain drain'," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 386-398, November.
    10. J Stewart Black & Mark Mendenhall, 1991. "The U-Curve Adjustment Hypothesis Revisited: A Review and Theoretical Framework," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 22(2), pages 225-247, June.
    11. Varma, Arup & Toh, Soo Min & Budhwar, Pawan, 2006. "A new perspective on the female expatriate experience: The role of host country national categorization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 112-120, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Caligiuri, Paula & Bonache, Jaime, 2016. "Evolving and enduring challenges in global mobility," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 127-141.
    2. Jinxi Michelle Li, 2011. "Analysis of Work and Cultural Adjustment of Korean-Chinese and Han-Chinese Workers in Korea under Framework of ERG Theory," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 14(2), pages 79-113, June.
    3. Selmer, Jan, 1999. "Culture shock in China?: Adjustment pattern of western expatriate business managers," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(5-6), pages 515-534, October.
    4. Maertz Jr., Carl P. & Hassan, Ahmad & Magnusson, Peter, 2009. "When learning is not enough: A process model of expatriate adjustment as cultural cognitive dissonance reduction," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 108(1), pages 66-78, January.
    5. Ma Eugenia Sánchez Vidal & Raquel Sanz Valle & Ma Isabel Barba Aragón, 2010. "Analysis of the repatriation adjustment process in the Spanish context," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(1), pages 21-41, March.
    6. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Froese, Fabian, 2014. "Expatriate personality and cultural fit: The moderating role of host country context on job satisfaction," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 293-302.
    7. Ramsey, Jase R., 2005. "The role of other orientation on the relationship between institutional distance and expatriate adjustment," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 377-396, September.
    8. Dimitrova, Mihaela & Chia, Sherwin Ignatius & Shaffer, Margaret A. & Tay-Lee, Cheryl, 2020. "Forgotten travelers: Adjustment and career implications of international business travel for expatriates," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(1).
    9. Yoshitaka Yamazaki, 2010. "Expatriate Adaptation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 81-108, February.
    10. Fee, Anthony & Gray, Sidney J., 2013. "Transformational learning experiences of international development volunteers in the Asia-Pacific: The case of a multinational NGO," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 196-208.
    11. Ren, Hong & Yunlu, Dilek G. & Shaffer, Margaret & Fodchuk, Katherine M., 2015. "Expatriate success and thriving: The influence of job deprivation and emotional stability," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 69-78.
    12. Md. Sayed Uddin & Rosazman Hussin & Badariah Ab Rahman, 2020. "Socio-Cultural Adjustment and Job Performance Among Expatriates: A Critical Overview," International Journal of Human Resource Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 146157-1461, December.
    13. Shay, Jeffrey P. & Tracey, J. Bruce, 2009. "Expatriate adjustment and effectiveness: The mediating role of managerial practices," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 401-412, December.
    14. Horak, Sven & Yang, Inju, 2016. "Affective networks, informal ties, and the limits of expatriate effectiveness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 1030-1042.
    15. Heidi Wechtler & Alexei Koveshnikov & Cécile Dejoux, 2017. "Career Anchors and Cross-Cultural Adjustment Among Expatriates in a Non-Profit Organization," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 277-305, April.
    16. Cave, Adam H., 2014. "Analyzing Engagement Effects for Repatriate Retention," MPRA Paper 54052, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Vesa Peltokorpi & Markus Pudelko, 2021. "When more is not better: A curvilinear relationship between foreign language proficiency and social categorization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 78-104, February.
    18. Toh, Soo Min & Srinivas, Ekkirala S., 2012. "Perceptions of task cohesiveness and organizational support increase trust and information sharing between host country nationals and expatriate coworkers in Oman," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 696-705.
    19. Soltani, Ebrahim & Wilkinson, Adrian, 2011. "The Razor's edge: Managing MNC affiliates in Iran," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 462-475, October.
    20. Kraus, Sina A. & Blake, Benjamin D. & Festing, Marion & Shaffer, Margaret A., 2023. "Global employees and exogenous shocks: considering positive psychological capital as a personal resource in international human resource management," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:43:y:2008:i:1:p:109-126. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.