The increasing globalisation of the markets in our modern world creates more and more challenges for international companies. Through Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances or overseas subsidiaries they penetrate and begin to compete in foreign markets.
As a result of the associated challenges, companies have understood that technical knowledge alone cannot count as appropriate prerequisites for global work-placement. Intercultural skills and international management qualities are increasingly sought after for management positions. As successful expatriations are good indicators of the availability and presence of these skills, they obtain all the more on importance.
Failed overseas assignments are a financial and operational risk for companies and therefore, most companies have understood the importance of preparing their expatriates and their families for the different cultures, the different living conditions as well as the different leading aspects in the new country.
This paper states the crucial components in preparing employees for overseas assignments and their importance for international businesses. It explains why companies send managers abroad, what kind of skills those expatriates have to establish in order to be successful and how culture influences the private as well as the working environment.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Increasing Globalisation
- Expatriation
- Reasons for Overseas Assignments
- When is the Overseas Assignment failed?
- Culture
- Culture in General
- Cultural Barriers in Communication
- The Cultural Aspect according to Hofstede
- Training for Overseas Assignment
- Skills of Efficient Expatriates
- Intercultural Training
- Informative Training
- Culture-General Informative Training
- Culture-Specific Informative Training
- Interactive Training
- Culture-General Interactive Training
- Culture-Specific Interactive Training
- Language Training
- Problems with Intercultural Training
- Importance of the Family
- Integration in the Overseas Subsidiary
- Reintegration
- Limitation and Importance of Intercultural Training
- The growing significance of overseas assignments in a globalized market
- The impact of cultural differences on the success of expatriate assignments
- The role of intercultural training in preparing expatriates for international assignments
- The importance of considering family factors in expatriate assignments
- The challenges and benefits of integrating into an overseas subsidiary
- Increasing Globalisation: This chapter discusses the increasing globalisation of markets and the growing need for companies to send expatriates abroad to navigate these challenges. It highlights the shift in focus from technical skills to intercultural competence and international management qualities, making successful overseas assignments more critical than ever.
- Expatriation: This chapter provides an overview of expatriation, exploring the reasons why companies send employees abroad and the various challenges associated with this decision. It emphasizes the need for thorough preparation and understanding of cultural nuances to ensure successful expatriate assignments.
- Reasons for Overseas Assignments: This chapter examines the various motives behind sending expatriates abroad, analyzing different types of overseas assignments and their specific purposes within the company. It sheds light on the diverse goals companies hope to achieve through these assignments.
- When is the Overseas Assignment failed?: This chapter delves into the factors that can lead to the failure of an overseas assignment. It explores the challenges faced by expatriates, including cultural misunderstandings, communication barriers, and difficulty adapting to a new environment.
- Culture: This chapter explores the concept of culture, emphasizing its significance in the context of expatriate assignments. It discusses the importance of understanding cultural differences and the potential barriers they can present in communication and interpersonal interactions.
- Cultural Barriers in Communication: This chapter focuses on the specific challenges posed by cultural barriers in communication. It analyzes how cultural differences can impact communication styles, nonverbal cues, and the interpretation of messages, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.
- The Cultural Aspect according to Hofstede: This chapter examines the cultural dimensions framework developed by Geert Hofstede, a renowned expert in cultural studies. It uses Hofstede's model to understand the cultural values and dimensions that can influence expatriate experiences in different countries.
- Training for Overseas Assignment: This chapter delves into the crucial role of training in preparing expatriates for successful overseas assignments. It emphasizes the need for both informative and interactive training components to equip expatriates with the necessary skills, knowledge, and cultural awareness.
- Skills of Efficient Expatriates: This chapter explores the specific skills and qualities that contribute to the effectiveness of expatriate assignments. It highlights the importance of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities.
- Intercultural Training: This chapter discusses various aspects of intercultural training, including its objectives, methods, and the importance of tailoring it to the specific cultural context. It explores different types of training programs, such as informative, interactive, and language training.
- Importance of the Family: This chapter addresses the importance of considering the impact of overseas assignments on the expatriate's family. It examines the challenges faced by spouses and children when relocating, emphasizing the need for adequate support and preparation for the family as a whole.
- Integration in the Overseas Subsidiary: This chapter explores the process of integration into the overseas subsidiary, analyzing the factors that influence successful integration, such as cultural understanding, communication skills, and establishing relationships with colleagues.
- Reintegration: This chapter focuses on the process of reintegration into the home country after an overseas assignment. It examines the challenges of readjusting to a different culture and work environment, highlighting the importance of support and preparation for this transition.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper examines the crucial components involved in preparing expatriates for overseas assignments, focusing on the increasing importance of cultural awareness and intercultural training in today's globalized business environment.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on expatriate training and the critical components for successful overseas assignments. Key concepts include globalization, cultural differences, intercultural communication, training programs, family considerations, and reintegration.
- Quote paper
- Dipl.-Betriebswirtin Norika Gölz (Author), 2003, Training expatriates - crucial components in preparing for overseas assignments, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20279
