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Host-country national networks and expatriate effectiveness: A mixed-methods study

Author

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  • Nealia S Bruning

    (Department of Business Administration, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada)

  • Karan Sonpar

    (School of Business, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland)

  • Xiaoyun Wang

    (Department of Business Administration, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada)

Abstract

This paper integrates research on personality, dissonance and social networks to explore how expatriate interactions with host-country nationals (HCNs) are associated with expatriate effectiveness. A mixed-methods study with expatriates working in China reveals that extraversion is positively related to overall performance. A paradox is also noted: whereas higher network ties with HCN colleagues are positively associated with performance, they are negatively associated with adjustment. Interviews extend the survey results, and highlight how the unclear boundaries between work and home impact on HCN network relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Nealia S Bruning & Karan Sonpar & Xiaoyun Wang, 2012. "Host-country national networks and expatriate effectiveness: A mixed-methods study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(4), pages 444-450, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:43:y:2012:i:4:p:444-450
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guo, Ying & Rammal, Hussain G. & Benson, John & Zhu, Ying & Dowling, Peter J., 2018. "Interpersonal relations in China: Expatriates’ perspective on the development and use of guanxi," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 455-464.
    2. Guo, Ying & Rammal, Hussain Gulzar & Pereira, Vijay, 2021. "Am I ‘In or Out’? A social identity approach to studying expatriates’ social networks and adjustment in a host country context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 558-566.
    3. Cerar, Jelena & Dimitrova, Mihaela & Nell, Phillip C., 2022. "Fostering operational management “Best Practices” in subsidiary plants in the Western Balkans: The role of MNC home-country environment and resource allocation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2).
    4. Caleb H. Tse & Klaus E. Meyer & Yigang Pan & Tailan Chi, 2024. "Evolution of MNE strategies amid China’s changing institutions: a thematic review," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(6), pages 657-675, August.
    5. Michailova, Snejina & Fee, Anthony & DeNisi, Angelo, 2023. "Research on host-country nationals in multinational enterprises: The last five decades and ways forward," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(1).
    6. Chabowski, Brian R. & Samiee, Saeed & Hult, G. Tomas M., 2017. "Cross-national research and international business: An interdisciplinary path," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 89-101.
    7. Buchnea, Emily & Elsahn, Ziad, 2022. "Historical social network analysis: Advancing new directions for international business research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    8. Lorenz, Melanie P. & Ramsey, Jase R. & Richey, Robert Glenn, 2018. "Expatriates’ international opportunity recognition and innovativeness: The role of metacognitive and cognitive cultural intelligence," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 222-236.
    9. 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.
    10. Ilya R. P. Cuypers & Gokhan Ertug & John Cantwell & Akbar Zaheer & Martin Kilduff, 2020. "Making connections: Social networks in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(5), pages 714-736, July.
    11. Gheath Mahmoud Abdel-Rahman & Subramaniam A/L Sri Ramalu & Chandrakantan A/L Subramaniam, 2017. "The Impact of Cultural Similarity and Social Network Characteristics on Re-Expatriation Intention Among Self-Initiated Academic Expatriates," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 7(9), pages 1-9, September.
    12. Gaur, Ajai & Kumar, Mukesh, 2018. "A systematic approach to conducting review studies: An assessment of content analysis in 25years of IB research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 280-289.
    13. Gheath Mahmoud Abdel-Rahman & Subramaniam A/L Sri Ramalu & Chandrakantan A/L Subramaniam, 2017. "The Impact of Cultural Similarity and Social Network Characteristics on Re-Expatriation Intention Among Self-Initiated Academic Expatriates," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 7(9), pages 1-9, September.
    14. Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Martín Martín, Oscar, 2018. "Expatriate managers' relationships and reverse knowledge transfer within emerging market MNCs: The mediating role of subsidiary willingness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 216-229.
    15. Silbiger, Avi & Barnes, Bradley R. & Berger, Ron & Renwick, Douglas W.S., 2021. "The role of regulatory focus and its influence on the cultural distance – Adjustment relationship for expatriate managers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 398-410.
    16. Sebastian Stoermer & Samuel Davies & Fabian Jintae Froese, 2021. "The influence of expatriate cultural intelligence on organizational embeddedness and knowledge sharing: The moderating effects of host country context," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 432-453, April.
    17. Bader, Benjamin & Schuster, Tassilo, 2015. "Expatriate Social Networks in Terrorism-Endangered Countries: An Empirical Analysis in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 63-77.
    18. Muhammad Noman & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Talles Vianna Brugni & Jinsoo Hwang & Muhammad Yaseen Bhutto & Thai Hong Thuy Khanh, 2020. "Determining the Challenges Encountered by Chinese Expatriates in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Caligiuri, Paula & Bonache, Jaime, 2016. "Evolving and enduring challenges in global mobility," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 127-141.
    20. Ilya R. P. Cuypers & Gokhan Ertug & John Cantwell & Akbar Zaheer & Martin Kilduff, 0. "Making connections: Social networks in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    21. Hitotsuyanagi-Hansel, Azusa & Froese, Fabian Jintae & Pak, Yong Suhk, 2016. "Lessening the divide in foreign subsidiaries: The influence of localization on the organizational commitment and turnover intention of host country nationals," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 569-578.
    22. Kubovcikova, Annamaria & van Bakel, Marian, 2022. "Social support abroad: How do self-initiated expatriates gain support through their social networks?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1).

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