“The performance of global firms depends on their ability to cope with heterogeneous cultural, institutional and competitive environments.”
In today’s world of globalization more and more people are sent abroad by their company. Most of these companies are multinational companies (MNEs) that have subsidiaries, cross-border alliances, international joint ventures or franchise partners.
There are so many reasons why companies are sending employees abroad, for example for preparing and managing a merger and acquisition or just to make experiences abroad for a better intercultural understanding between the home company and the host company. The ultimate objectives are knowledge transfer and a common corporate management. As soon as a company leave the national borders it is predicted that it needs employees who are able to manage in an international environment. The IHRM (International Human Resource Management) of a company has therefore a difficult selection process to handle.
In this term paper the targets and motivations for an international assignment will be outlined from the entrepreneurial as well as from the employee’s point of view and demonstrate how these motivations play a role for a successful international assignment. In the main part it will be shown which selection criteria are important concerning the selection of global managers. Here a global manager is synonymous with an international assignee or an expatriate because most of the assignees hold a leading position.
This term paper is not concentrated on selecting for a special international assignment like for a merger and acquisition or a joint venture, but for selecting assignees for international assignments in general, trying to identify the concerning problems for a long-term assignment. It is to point out which are the criteria and requirements for global managers an international environment. Furthermore two important factors for selection will be pointed out more precisely, the cultural and the family adjustment. For the IHRM the political and juridical subject like international compensation or international contracts is an important issue but it would take us too far afield and thus unregarded here. In this text the female form is renounced for a better reading flow, but the male form always implies the female form, too.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- International assignments
- Definitions and process of an international assignment
- Targets and motivations
- Selection of international assignees
- Selection policies and criteria
- Cultural adjustment
- Family adjustment
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper examines the selection process for international assignments, focusing on the motivations and criteria for choosing global managers. It analyzes the key factors that influence the success of international assignments, including cultural and family adjustment. The paper aims to highlight the challenges faced by both companies and expatriates during international assignments and to identify strategies for optimizing selection and support.
- Motivations of companies and expatriates for international assignments
- Selection criteria for global managers in international environments
- Challenges of cultural and family adjustment during international assignments
- The role of IHRM in supporting and accompanying employees on international assignments
- Importance of a successful international assignment for company success and employee retention
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the concept of international assignments, defining key terms and outlining the typical process involved. It highlights the different types of international assignments (short-term, extended, and long-term) and the impact of family companions on assignment success.
Chapter 2 examines the motivations of both companies and expatriates for engaging in international assignments. It emphasizes the importance of successful deployment for companies and explores the challenges faced by expatriates, particularly the high turnover rate after returning to their home country. The chapter also discusses the role of global managers in bridging the gap between parent and host companies.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and topics of this term paper include international assignments, global managers, expatriates, selection criteria, cultural adjustment, family adjustment, IHRM, motivations, challenges, and knowledge transfer. The focus is on understanding the factors that contribute to successful international assignments and the challenges faced by both companies and employees involved in this process.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Theresa Möller (Autor:in), 2014, Important Selection Criteria for International Assignments, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/302247
