Preparing U.S.

Personnel for Foreign Assignments and Developing Cultural Awareness

Preparing U.S. Personnel for Foreign Assignments

Cost of foreign assignments
Typically from 150-400 percent of the annual base salary Cost increases if the expatriate returns home before completing the scheduled assignment About 40% of expatriates fall into failure upon working in a new country.

The planning process

Must begin prior to the selection of those going abroad Must extend to their specific assignments after returning home

Overcoming Reluctance to Accept a Foreign Assignment

Concerns for career
An absence will adversely affect opportunities for advancement

Concerns for family

Education of the children Isolation from family and friends Proper health care The potential for violence

Special compensations packages deal with concerns

Reducing the Rate of Early Returns

Evaluation of an employees family
75 percent of families sent abroad experience adjustment problems with children or marital discord

Cross-cultural training for families as well as the employee Local ombudsmen

Successful Expatriate Repatriation

Commit to reassigning expatriates to meaningful positions Create a mentor program Offer a written job guarantee stating what company is obligated to do for returning expatriate Keep the expatriate in touch with headquarters through periodic briefings and headquarter visits Prepare the expatriate and family for repatriation once a return date is set

Developing Cultural Awareness

Expatriate failures
Caused by lack of an understanding of cultural differences and their effect on management skills

Cultural skills
Can be learned and developed Provide the individual with the ability to relate to a different culture even when the individual is unfamiliar with the details of that particular culture Verbal communication behaviors, nonverbal communication behaviors and work styles

Acquiring Knowledge about the Host Country

Cognitive Approach Fact-orientation Through experiences Role-playing Workshops Simulations