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Self-initiated expatriates: an alternative to company-assigned expatriates?

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  • Phyllis Tharenou

Abstract

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine scholars’ proposal that self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) can provide an alternative to company-assigned expatriates (CAEs) for filling key positions in foreign subsidiaries at a lower cost. Design/methodology/approach - – Underpinned by findings from empirical studies, this conceptual paper compares SIEs with CAEs and their traditional alternative, multinational corporation (MNC) local employees, to examine the suitability of SIEs as a replacement for CAEs. Findings - – SIEs are likely not a suitable alternative to CAEs for purposes of control, transfer, running the foreign operation and management development (purposes requiring firm-specific competencies), but are likely suitable for filling technical and lower and middle management positions (requiring more generic, specialist competencies) and purposes of managing within the subsidiary and responding to the local environment (purposes requiring cross-cultural and host location-specific competencies). Practical implications - – Guidance is provided for the recruitment of SIEs as an alternative to CAEs. Originality/value - – The paper adds new insight in assessing whether SIEs provide an alternative to CAEs by proposing a framework that integrates: the identification of SIEs’ competencies relative to those of CAEs and MNC local employees, based on career capital theory; with the assessment of their value, based on human capital allocation theory, against the purposes for which CAEs are deployed.

Suggested Citation

  • Phyllis Tharenou, 2013. "Self-initiated expatriates: an alternative to company-assigned expatriates?," Journal of Global Mobility, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 1(3), pages 336-356, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jgmpps:v:1:y:2013:i:3:p:336-356
    DOI: 10.1108/JGM-02-2013-0008
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Selmer & Yvonne McNulty & Jakob Lauring & Charles Vance, 2018. "Who is an expat-preneur? Toward a better understanding of a key talent sector supporting international entrepreneurship," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 134-149, June.
    2. Émilie Lapointe & Christian Vandenberghe & Shea X. Fan, 2022. "Psychological contract breach and organizational cynicism and commitment among self-initiated expatriates vs. host country nationals in the Chinese and Malaysian transnational education sector," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 319-342, March.
    3. Akhimien Goodheart Okharedia & Umemezia Evelyn, 2021. "Demographic Profiles for Cross-Cultural Adjustment of Expatriates in Nigeria," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 9(1), pages 25-49, September.
    4. Lauring, Jakob & Selmer, Jan, 2018. "Person-environment fit and emotional control: Assigned expatriates vs. self-initiated expatriates," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 982-992.
    5. Chen, Yu-Ping & Shaffer, Margaret A., 2017. "The influences of perceived organizational support and motivation on self-initiated expatriates’ organizational and community embeddedness," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 197-208.
    6. Schlägel, Christopher & Sarstedt, Marko, 2016. "Assessing the measurement invariance of the four-dimensional cultural intelligence scale across countries: A composite model approach," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 633-649.

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