international organizations assignment quizlet

• 6.5 Cross-Cultural Assignments
• Introduction
• 1.1 What Do Managers Do?
• 1.2 The Roles Managers Play
• 1.3 Major Characteristics of the Manager's Job
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Chapter Review Questions
• Management Skills Application Exercises
• Managerial Decision Exercises
• Critical Thinking Case
• 2.1 Overview of Managerial Decision-Making
• 2.2 How the Brain Processes Information to Make Decisions: Reflective and Reactive Systems
• 2.3 Programmed and Nonprogrammed Decisions
• 2.4 Barriers to Effective Decision-Making
• 2.5 Improving the Quality of Decision-Making
• 2.6 Group Decision-Making
• 3.1 The Early Origins of Management
• 3.2 The Italian Renaissance
• 3.3 The Industrial Revolution
• 3.4 Taylor-Made Management
• 3.5 Administrative and Bureaucratic Management
• 3.6 Human Relations Movement
• 3.7 Contingency and System Management
• 4.1 The Organization's External Environment
• 4.2 External Environments and Industries
• 4.3 Organizational Designs and Structures
• 4.4 The Internal Organization and External Environments
• 4.5 Corporate Cultures
• 4.6 Organizing for Change in the 21st Century
• 5.1 Ethics and Business Ethics Defined
• 5.2 Dimensions of Ethics: The Individual Level
• 5.3 Ethical Principles and Responsible Decision-Making
• 5.4 Leadership: Ethics at the Organizational Level
• 5.5 Ethics, Corporate Culture, and Compliance
• 5.6 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• 5.7 Ethics around the Globe
• 5.8 Emerging Trends in Ethics, CSR, and Compliance
• 6.1 Importance of International Management
• 6.2 Hofstede's Cultural Framework
• 6.3 The GLOBE Framework
• 6.4 Cultural Stereotyping and Social Institutions
• 6.6 Strategies for Expanding Globally
• 6.7 The Necessity of Global Markets
• 7.1 Entrepreneurship
• 7.2 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
• 7.3 Small Business
• 7.4 Start Your Own Business
• 7.5 Managing a Small Business
• 7.6 The Large Impact of Small Business
• 7.7 The Small Business Administration
• 7.8 Trends in Entrepreneurship and Small-Business Ownership
• 8.1 Gaining Advantages by Understanding the Competitive Environment
• 8.2 Using SWOT for Strategic Analysis
• 8.3 A Firm's External Macro Environment: PESTEL
• 8.4 A Firm's Micro Environment: Porter's Five Forces
• 8.5 The Internal Environment
• 8.6 Competition, Strategy, and Competitive Advantage
• 8.7 Strategic Positioning
• 9.1 Strategic Management
• 9.2 Firm Vision and Mission
• 9.3 The Role of Strategic Analysis in Formulating a Strategy
• 9.4 Strategic Objectives and Levels of Strategy
• 9.5 Planning Firm Actions to Implement Strategies
• 9.6 Measuring and Evaluating Strategic Performance
• 10.1 Organizational Structures and Design
• 10.2 Organizational Change
• 10.3 Managing Change
• 11.1 An Introduction to Human Resource Management
• 11.2 Human Resource Management and Compliance
• 11.3 Performance Management
• 11.4 Influencing Employee Performance and Motivation
• 11.5 Building an Organization for the Future
• 11.6 Talent Development and Succession Planning
• 12.1 An Introduction to Workplace Diversity
• 12.2 Diversity and the Workforce
• 12.3 Diversity and Its Impact on Companies
• 12.4 Challenges of Diversity
• 12.5 Key Diversity Theories
• 12.6 Benefits and Challenges of Workplace Diversity
• 12.7 Recommendations for Managing Diversity
• 13.1 The Nature of Leadership
• 13.2 The Leadership Process
• 13.3 Leader Emergence
• 13.4 The Trait Approach to Leadership
• 13.5 Behavioral Approaches to Leadership
• 13.6 Situational (Contingency) Approaches to Leadership
• 13.7 Substitutes for and Neutralizers of Leadership
• 13.8 Transformational, Visionary, and Charismatic Leadership
• 13.9 Leadership Needs in the 21st Century
• 14.1 Motivation: Direction and Intensity
• 14.2 Content Theories of Motivation
• 14.3 Process Theories of Motivation
• 14.4 Recent Research on Motivation Theories
• 15.1 Teamwork in the Workplace
• 15.2 Team Development Over Time
• 15.3 Things to Consider When Managing Teams
• 15.4 Opportunities and Challenges to Team Building
• 15.5 Team Diversity
• 15.6 Multicultural Teams
• 16.1 The Process of Managerial Communication
• 16.2 Types of Communications in Organizations
• 16.3 Factors Affecting Communications and the Roles of Managers
• 16.4 Managerial Communication and Corporate Reputation
• 16.5 The Major Channels of Management Communication Are Talking, Listening, Reading, and Writing
• 17.1 Is Planning Important
• 17.2 The Planning Process
• 17.3 Types of Plans
• 17.4 Goals or Outcome Statements
• 17.5 Formal Organizational Planning in Practice
• 17.6 Employees' Responses to Planning
• 17.7 Management by Objectives: A Planning and Control Technique
• 17.8 The Control- and Involvement-Oriented Approaches to Planning and Controlling
• 18.1 MTI—Its Importance Now and In the Future
• 18.2 Developing Technology and Innovation
• 18.3 External Sources of Technology and Innovation
• 18.4 Internal Sources of Technology and Innovation
• 18.5 Management Entrepreneurship Skills for Technology and Innovation
• 18.6 Skills Needed for MTI
• 18.7 Managing Now for Future Technology and Innovation
• What steps can you take to be better prepared for cross-cultural assignments?

At some point in your career, you are very likely to be asked to be involved in cross-cultural operations. You may encounter employees from other countries in the local company you work for, or your company may send you to another country to run international operations. When these situations arise, you will need to be prepared to manage cultural differences. In this section, we discuss some of the things companies and individuals can do to better prepare for cross-national differences.

One of the goals of any cross-cultural training is to increase an employee’s cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence refers to “individuals’ capabilities to function and manage effectively in culturally diverse settings.” 21 The culturally intelligent manager is someone who can operate without difficulty in cross-national settings. Recent research suggests that cultural intelligence is made up of four dimensions:

• a cognitive dimension , focusing on the individual’s knowledge of values and practices inherent in the new culture acquired through education and personal experiences
• a meta-cognitive dimension , which reflects an individual’s ability to use cross-cultural knowledge to understand and adapt to the cultural environment they are exposed to
• a motivational dimension , which reflects the ability and desire to continuously learn new aspects of cultures and adapt to them
• a behavioral dimension , based on the ability of the individual to exhibit the appropriate forms of verbal and nonverbal behaviors when interacting with people from another culture

To give you more insights into the cultural intelligence measure, Table 6.9 provides some representative statements used to gauge a person’s understanding of these four dimensions of cultural intelligence various aspects of cross-cultural interactions.

Cross-Cultural Training through Education and Personal Experience: Low and High Rigor

Current research suggests that cross-cultural training can influence cultural intelligence. At a basic level, you can acquire cultural intelligence by taking classes in your program. Research has shown that taking cross-cultural management courses can enhance cultural intelligence. 22 For example, in a study of 152 MBA students, researchers found that cultural intelligence of the students increased after they took a cross-cultural management course. In another longitudinal study, researchers found that study abroad has significant impact on the cognitive and metacognitive aspects of cultural intelligence. How do multinationals approach cross-cultural training? The above provides examples of low-rigor training , in which individuals are exposed to critical information to help them understand the realities of a different culture but are not actively and directly engaged with the culture. 23 In such cases, instructors transfer basic information and knowledge to students through lectures, books, and case studies.

Low-rigor training has several important disadvantages. Participants often just receive information; they learn that differences exist but do not necessarily learn how to deal with cultural differences in a real-life situation. Furthermore, cross-cultural differences can be very subtle and nuanced, and this method cannot expose participants to such nuances. Balancing these significant disadvantages is one key advantage: low-rigor training tends to be the most cost effective.

Companies can also rely on high-rigor methods of training, in which participants are actively engaged in the process and can learn some tacit aspects of cross-cultural differences. 24 Examples of high-rigor training include classroom language training, case studies, and sensitivity training. High-rigor training also includes more experiential approaches such as role-playing, simulations, and field experiences. Some MNCs (multi-national corporations) also offer on-the-job training, during which employees are coached and trained while working at their jobs. This method allows the trainee not only to see the new culture, but also to learn how that culture interacts with the work environment. The advantage of this method is that it enables the participant to be much more actively engaged in learning, thereby facilitating transfer of knowledge. But as you might have guessed, high-rigor training is much more expensive to provide.

Which method works best? Experts agree that it depends on the nature of the assignment. Longer and more complex international assignments benefit from higher-rigor training. 25 Furthermore, because international work assignments tend to be more short-term in nature, ways to enhance the metacognitive aspects of cultural intelligence are necessary. 26 Today, because more managers tend to have more frequent but shorter assignments to international companies, having metacognitive skills is critical. As a result, brief lectures or other low-rigor methods that simply provide information may be useful in helping develop the cognitive aspect but not metacognition. In such cases, high-rigor methods that allow participants to be much more actively engaged with a culture will work well.

When Should Cross-Cultural Training Occur?

Another important aspect of cross-cultural training is the timing of the training. Some multinationals offer predeparture cross-cultural training , which provides individuals with learning opportunities prior to their departure. 27 Such training can take the form of 1- to 12-week programs, although two- to three-day programs are also very popular. After such training, the expatriate has a good understanding of expectations, what the local culture looks and feels like, and how to manage any local shocks when they arrive. This approach also makes individuals about to go to another country less anxious about the unknown.

Multinationals will also often opt for postarrival cross-cultural training , which occurs after an expatriate has arrived in the foreign country and can address issues in “real time.” Armed with local cultural knowledge and training, the expatriate can delve into work issues without worrying about daily living issues.

Recent research provides evidence of the utility of cross-cultural training. For example, a recent study of 114 expatriates showed that both predeparture and postarrival training had positive effects on several aspects of their success. 28 Specifically, in a study in Vietnam, the findings show that both predeparture and postarrival training positively impacted the ability of expatriates to adjust to their work and general environment. Additionally, such training was also effective in enhancing the ability of expatriates to better interact with locals. The researchers also examined the impact of language training. Not surprisingly, expatriates who received training in the local language were better able to adjust to local interaction than others.

The above study shows that both predeparture and postarrival training are important for success in cross-cultural management. While the study shows that it is most effective for MNCs to provide more than one type of training, the findings also show that postarrival training has the most impact on the types of cross-cultural adjustment. While companies tend to shy away from the more expensive postarrival training, the study suggests that the investment may be worthwhile if it enables expatriates to succeed.

Best practices advise that the optimal time for predeparture training programs is around three to five weeks prior to the international assignment. Training provided too far ahead of time may not be very effective because the expatriate may not activate all learning readiness and may forget the training if it occurs too far ahead of the assignment. Best practices also suggest that postarrival training is best delivered 8 to 12 weeks after arrival. This allows the expatriate to experience cross-cultural interaction and phenomena and to be better ready to gain the most from the training.

Adapting Behavior to the Culture

A final issue that managers need to address is that the training should not focus only on identifying and teaching about differences. 29 Experts agree that this focus on differences is a problem in current cross-cultural training approaches. While identifying and understanding cultural differences is useful and necessary, trainers often don’t provide guidance as to how the participants should adapt and react to such cultural differences. It is therefore necessary for the multinational to take the necessary steps to teach cross-cultural sojourners to adapt their behaviors so that they act and react in culturally appropriate ways. Experts also suggest that such training should not be static and limited to web pages or documentation. Training should be integrated with the actual work that the employee is engaging in.

Concept Check

• How should training to manage cultural and regional differences occur?
• How should training for cross-cultural assignments be implemented?

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World’s Important Organizations quiz

Quiz on international organizations:.

Ques. The European Union has adopted which of the following as a common currency? (a) Dollar (b) Dinar (c) Yen (d) Euro View Answer

Ques. UNICEF stands for (a) United Nations Child Education Fund (b) United Nations Company Fund (c) United Nations Children’s Fund (d) United Nations Corporate Fund View Answer

Ques. Where is the Royal Dutch Shell based? (a) London, United Kingdom (b) North Carolina, USA (c) Basel, Switzerland (d) The Hague, Netherlands View Answer

Ques. Who was the leading figure in the Congress of Vienna? (a) Napoleon Bonaparte (b) Garibaldi (c) Metternich (d) Louis Napoleon View Answer

Ques. Verizon headquarters is located at – (a) London, UK (b) Abu Dhabi, UAE (c) New York, USA (d) Venice, Italy View Answer

Related: countries in Oceania

Ques. What is full form of MENA? (a) Middle East & North Africa (b) Members of Egypt and Norwegian Association (c) Member of Eco friendly Nation’s Alliance (d) Member of Ecological & Natural Agency View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Volkswagen located in (a) Vienna, Italy (b) Wolfsburg, Germany (c) London, UK (d) Paris, France View Answer

Ques.  The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is related with which country ? (a) USA (b) Russia (c) Vietnam (d) Germany View Answer

Ques. Where is the Siemens based? (a) Munich, Germany (b) Mumbai, India (c) Shanghai, China (d) Singapore View Answer

Ques. Which of these is a member of The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established in 1985? (a) Afghanistan (b) Myanmar (Burma) (c) Mauritius (d) South Korea View Answer

Ques. Transparency International is located at – (a) Shanghai (b) Macau (c) Berlin (d) Istanbul View Answer

Related: Quiz on Human Health and Diseases

Ques. The Headquarters of IOSCO located in (a) Rome, Italy (b) Madrid, Spain (c) Geneva, Switzerland (d) Bern, Switzerland View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of FedEx located in (a) Memphis, Tennessee (b) Armonk, New York (c) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (d) Sandy Springs, Georgia View Answer

Ques. Where is the Federation Aeronautique Internationale based? (a) France (b) Switzerland (c) Belgium (d) USA View Answer

Ques. LG stands for (a) Limited Goods (b) Level Gram (c) Good Private Limited (d) Life’s Good View Answer

Ques. Nokia Corporation is a___based company. (a) USA (b) Japan (c) Philippines (d) Finland View Answer

Related: quiz questions about Europe

Ques. Where is the Samsung based? (a) Tokyo, Japan (b) Clermont, France (c) Seoul, South Korea (d) Leiden, Netherlands View Answer

Ques. 10 nations of Asian together with China, India. Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand constitute (a) BIMSTEC (b) Asia Aust Summit (c) East Asian Summit (d) Asia Australia Free Trade Agreement View Answer

Ques. Citigroup is located at – (a) Espoo, Finland (b) New York City, USA (c) Illinois, USA (d) Munich, Germany View Answer

Ques. The Heads of Government of the countries which are members of the Commonwealth meet (a) once a year (b) biennially (c) at intervals of three years (d) as and when necessary View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Canon located in (a) Amsterdam, Netherlands (b) Mexico City, Mexico (c) Tokyo, Japan (d) Arkansas, USA View Answer

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Ques. Which of the following countries represent letter ‘C’ in the category known as BRIC countries? (a) Canada (b) Chile (c) Cuba (d) China View Answer

Ques. What does stands UPS for? (a) Union Postal Stamp (b) United Postal Service (c) Universal Post Supervisors (d) Universe Postal State View Answer

Ques. The organisation of South East Asian Nations is called (a) OPEC (b) SAPTA (c) NATO (d) ASEAN View Answer

Ques. HP stands for (a) Hewlett-Packard (b) Help with Printing (c) Printing House (d) Home Packing View Answer

Ques. IBM stands for (a) International Business Mechanics (b) International Basic Machines (c) Industrial Business Mechanics (d) International Business Machines View Answer

Related: America quiz

Ques. Where is the Target based? (a) Toyota, Japan (b) Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (c) Santa Clara, California, USA (d) Porto, Portugal View Answer

Ques. Which of the following is member of Euro­pean Free Trade Association (EFTA) ? (a) Norway (b) Switzerland (c) Liechtenstein (d) All of these View Answer

Ques. Peugeot is located at – (a) Antalya, Turkey (b) Moscow, Russia (c) Paris, France (d) Seoul, South Korea View Answer

Ques. Which of these countries is not a member of the British Commonwealth? (a) The Philippines (b) Ghana (c) Malaysia (d) New Zealand View Answer

Ques. BP stands for (a) British Petroleum (b) Britain Petrol (c) Borewell Principal (d) Borewell Public View Answer

Related: Asian countries and capitals

Ques. The Headquarters of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is (a) Vienna (b) The Hague (c) Paris (d) Rome View Answer

Ques. UBS stands for (a) Union Bank of Scotland (b) Union Bank of Switzerland (c) Union Bank of Sweden (d) Union Bank of Spain View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of IMF located in (a) Washington DC, USA (b) New York, USA (c) Georgia, USA (d) Ferrand, France View Answer

Ques. What does ISO stands for? (a) International State Organization (b) International Small Scale Organization (c) International Standards Organization (d) International Self-help Organization View Answer

Ques. What is the purpose of OECD (Organisa­tion for Economic Cooperation and Development)? (a) Sustained economic growth (b) Employment (c) Higher standards of living (d) All of the above View Answer

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Ques. The Headquarters of Honda located in (a) Washington DC, USA (b) Atlanta, Georgia, USA (c) London, United Kingdom (d) Tokyo, Japan View Answer

Ques. In what country was the ”Red Cross” founded? (a) England (b) Germany (c) France (d) Switzerland View Answer

Ques. What is full form of UNIDO? (a) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (b) United States Industrial Development Organization (c) Uniformed Nations Information Development Organization (d) United Nations Investment Development Organization View Answer

Ques. What is full form of IKEA? (a) International Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (b) Institute Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (c) Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (d) Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Associatiana View Answer

Ques. Where is the Dell company based? (a) Zurich, Switzerland (b) Round Rock, Texas, USA (c) Geneva, Switzerland (d) London, UK View Answer

Related: Data analysis questions

Ques. International Civil Aviation Organisation is located at – (a) Bangalore (b) Willington (c) Montreal (d) France View Answer

Ques. Headquarters of Sony is located at – (a) London, United Kingdom (b) Newbury, UK (c) Tokyo, Japan (d) Zurich, Switzerland View Answer

Ques. What does the institution ECDC do? (a) Monitors infectious diseases on behalf of the EU (b) Certifies computer skills (c) Ecological research (d) Regulates international standards electrical cable ducting View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Pfizer located in (a) Tennessee, USA (b) Michigan, USA (c) London, United Kingdom (d) New York, USA View Answer

Ques. Where is the Nike based? (a) Leiden, Netherlands (b) Beaverton, Oregon, USA (c) Espoo, Finland (d) New York, USA View Answer

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Ques. Where is the Chevron based? (a) San Ramon, California, USA (b) Omaha, Nebraska, USA (c) Atlanta, Georgia, USA (d) Detroit, Michigan, USA View Answer

Ques. Which amongst the following nations is not a member of the SAARC? (a) Bangladesh (b) Bhutan (c) Nepal (d) South Africa View Answer

Ques. PepsiCo is located at – (a) Palo Alto, California, USA (b) Purchase, New York, USA (c) Burbank, California, USA (d) Omaha, Nebraska, USA View Answer

Ques. ICAO stands for (a) International Civil Aviation Organiza­tion (b) Indian Corporation of Agriculture Or­ganization (c) Institute of Company of Accounts Or­ganization (d) None of the above View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of McDonalds located in (a) Palo Alto, California, USA (b) Bentonville, Arkansas, USA (c) Oak Brook, Illinois, USA (d) Munich, Germany View Answer

Related: Geography quiz

Ques. The Red Cross was founded by – (a) Emily Wilding (b) Henri Durant (c) David Suzuki (d) Baba Amte View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Jio located in (a) California, USA (b) Rome, Italy (c) Toyota, Japan (d) Mumbai, India View Answer

Ques. The permanent secretariat of the SAARC is located at – (a) Kathmandu (b) New Delhi (c) Shanghai (d) Karachi View Answer

Ques. What is full form of SAARC? (a) South Asian Agency for Regional Cooperation (b) South American Association for Regional Cooperation (c) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (d) South American Association for Regional Congress View Answer

Ques. World Health Organization is located at – (a) Chicago (b) Munich (c) Oak Brook (d) Geneva View Answer

Related: questions about Rivers

Ques. Where is Volvo based? (a) California, USA (b) Gothenburg, Sweden (c) Arkansas, USA (d) Toyota, Japan View Answer

Ques. ASEAN was set up in the year: (a) 1985 (b) 1975 (c) 1967 (d) 1958 View Answer

Ques. Toshiba is located at – (a) Tokyo, Japan (b) Munich, Germany (c) Amsterdam, The Netherlands (d) California, USA View Answer

Ques. IRC stands for – (a) Indian Red Citizen (b) International Red Cross (c) International Religion Centre (d) Italian River Clostridium View Answer

Ques. What does IREA stands for? (a) International Russian Education Agency (b) International Renewable Energy Agency (c) International Radium Energy Agency (d) Intercontinental Renewable Energy Association View Answer

Related: World’s biggest stock exchange

Ques. Which of the following countries is not a member of G-15? (a) Jamaica (b) Indonesia (c) Colombia (d) Peru View Answer

Ques. The Head Office of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. located in (a) Munich, Germany (b) Oak Brook, Illinois, USA (c) New York City, USA (d) Chicago, Illinois, USA View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Universal Postal Union located in (a) Berne (b) Amsterdam (c) California (d) Arkansas View Answer

Ques. Where is the Nestle based? (a) Clermont-Ferrand, France (b) Leiden, The Netherlands (c) Espoo, Finland (d) Vevey, Switzerland View Answer

Ques. Where is the House of Keys the governing body, with 24 elected members? (a) Greenland (b) Republic of Ireland (c) Iceland (d) Isle of Man View Answer

Related: French Culture quiz

Ques. ConocoPhillips is located at – (a) Houston, Texas, USA (b) Armonk, New York, USA (c) Sandy Springs, Georgia, USA (d) Clermont-Ferrand, France View Answer

Ques. India is NOT a member of which of the following organisations ? (a) SAARC (b) WTO (c) BRIC (d) OPEC View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Procter & Gamble located in (a) New York, USA (b) Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (c) Geneva, Switzerland (d) Armonk, New York, USA View Answer

Ques. Where is the International Labour Organization based? (a) Toyota (b) Geneva (c) California (d) Seoul View Answer

Ques. UNESCO stands for (a) United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (b) United Nations Enterprise, Scientific and Cultural Organization (c) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (d) United Nations Educational, Secret and Cultural Organization View Answer

Related: branch of Science

Ques. The headquarters of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is located in (a) Paris (b) Madrid (c) New York (d) Geneva View Answer

Ques. Where is the Hyundai based? (a) Kathmandu, Nepal (b) New York, USA (c) Noida, India (d) Seoul, South Korea View Answer

Ques.  ExxonMobil headquarters is located at – (a) Irving, Texas (b) Atlanta, Georgia (c) Omaha, Nebraska (d) Detroit, Michigan View Answer

Ques. Microsoft head office is located at – (a) Redmond, Washington, USA (b) Vienna, Italy (c) London, UK (d) Paris, France View Answer

Ques. The headoffice of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) (a) China (b) France (c) Japan (d) Philippines View Answer

Related: Renaissance quiz

Ques. The Headquarters of International Maritime Organisation in (a) London (b) Abu Dhabi (c) Geneva (d) Washington View Answer

Ques. The Headquarters of Food and Agricultural Organisation located in (a) Seoul (b) Rome (c) Tennessee (d) London View Answer

Ques. UNFPA stands for (a) United Nations Pollution federation (b) United Nations People Fund (c) United Nations Pollution Fund (d) United Nations Population Fund View Answer

Ques. What was the purpose of establishing the European Economic Community (EEC)? (a) To promote a common market and economic prosperity among member countries (b) To create a single market for free import and export among (c) both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above View Answer

Ques. Where is the International Court Of Justice based? (a) London (b) The Hague (c) Basel (d) Geneva View Answer

Related: rearrange the sentence quiz

Ques. What is full form of BMW? (a) British Motor Works (b) Broadcasting Motoren Werke (c) Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (d) Bayerische Motoren Worlde View Answer

Ques. World Meteorological Organization is located at – (a) Bentonville (b) Seoul (c) Toyota (d) Geneva View Answer

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• 1. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) promotes the movement of goods between participating countries without restrictive: A  imports or exports.   B imports and trade.  C tariffs or quotas.  D domestic and offshore.
• 2. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt President Bill Clinton supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) primarily as a way to normalize trade relations with Cuba stimulate economic growth in the United States restrict the flow of drugs into the United States increase the United States trade deficit
• 3. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt In 1990, 6 percent of the fruits and vegetables available in the United States came from Mexico and Canada. In 2007, that percentage had increased to about 12 percent. Based on this information, which statement best describes a benefit of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? trade agreements protect domestic industries through subsidies a limited membership results in increased prices for trade goods a reduction in tariffs encourages an increase in trade trade agreements require improvements in exchange rates
• 4. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt What was one criticism regarding the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? U.S. tariffs would decrease profits.  Outsourced labor would increase prices of goods.  U.S. companies would move jobs abroad.  Establishment of similar treaties would hinder economic growth.
• 5. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt NAFTA is an agreement among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico primarily intended to promote environmental protection military defense human rights free trade
• 6. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt What is the purpose of OPEC? set the price of petroleum encourage the use of oil throughout the Middle East Develop new ways to extract oil from the Earth increase the sale of petroleum in 1st world nations
• 7. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Which statement best describes an immediate result of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) selling oil above market value? The United States would increase research for alternative fuels  Oil prices in the United States would rise The United States would halt the sale of fuel to China Oil production in the United States would rise
• 8. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt In 1949, the United States and eleven other countries agreed to form which alliance? SEATO       ANZUS    NATO  OPEC
• 9. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt  • Creation of NATO   • Creation of Warsaw Pact   • Building of Berlin Wall  • Beginning of Nuclear Arms Race Which of these is most closely associated with the developments in this chart? Cold War World War I Treaty of Paris Treaty of Versailles
• 10. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt What effect did the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 have on United States diplomatic history? It committed the US to a peacetime military alliance It strengthened US influence in oil-producing nations It eased tensions with the Soviet Union and its satellites. It created new patterns of international trade
• 11. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt What were the Truman Doctrine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of the United States' responses to? The threat of Nazis in the 1930s The fear of economic depression after WWI The concern about the partition of India in 1947 The Communist threat after WWII.
• 12. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949. What is the agreement among the nations that formed NATO? to ally in common defense to prevent the spread of infectious disease to share the costs of developing new technology to provide nuclear weapons to member nations
• 13. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Why was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed? to promote free trade among European countries to encourage the economic recovery of Europe to regulate the production of weapons for war to contain the expansion of the Soviet Union
• 14. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Which alliance was formed to protect Western Europe from Soviet influence? North Atlantic Treaty Organization Southeast Asia Treaty Organization Warsaw Pact League of Nations
• 15. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Which organization was established in reaction to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?      African Union       World Bank United Nations  Warsaw Pact
• 16. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt What has been a major success of the European Union (EU) in recent years? the creation of a single military force the rejection of national sovereignty the adoption of a single language the elimination of trade barriers
• 17. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt A major factor that encouraged member states to form the European Union was the the threat of external military forces mutual advantage of economic integration need to protect human rights popular demand for unified social institutions
• 18. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Which government policies would encourage economic growth? increasing regulation in the banking industry subsidizing utilities for low-income families establishing a free trade agreement with the European Union passing a law protecting people from identity theft
• 19. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt Why Switzerland has declined to Join the European Union    •  The system of direct democracy would be compromised  •  Banking practices would be changed  •    ?    a common currency might cause inflation open passports would cause an increase in terrorist activities Switzerland's strict neutrality policy might be challenged trade agreements with other nations might end
• 20. Multiple-choice 30 seconds 1 pt  Selected Economic Organizations   • European Union (EU)  • North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA)  • Central American Free Trade Association (CAFTA) How have these organizations helped advance the integration of the global economy? by reducing labor protections to improve competitiveness by providing tax incentives for overseas investment by removing trade barriers between member countries by promoting the outsourcing of production

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14.3 International HRM Considerations

Learning objectives.

• Be able to explain how the selection process for an expatriate differs from a domestic process.
• Explain possible expatriate training topics and the importance of each.
• Identify the performance review and legal differences for international assignments.
• Explain the logistical considerations for expatriate assignments.

In an international environment, as long as proper research is performed, most HRM concepts can be applied. The important thing to consider is proper research and understanding of cultural, economic, and legal differences between countries. This section will provide an overview of some specific considerations for an international business, keeping in mind that with awareness, any HRM concept can be applied to the international environment. In addition, it is important to mention again that host-country offices should be in constant communication with home-country offices to ensure policies and practices are aligned with the organization.

Recruitment and Selection

As we discussed in Section 14.2 “Staffing Internationally” , understanding which staffing strategy to use is the first aspect of hiring the right person for the overseas assignment. The ideal candidate for an overseas assignment normally has the following characteristics:

• Managerial competence: technical skills, leadership skills, knowledge specific to the company operations.
• Training: The candidate either has or is willing to be trained on the language and culture of the host country.
• Adaptability: The ability to deal with new, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar situations and the ability to adjust to the culture in which the candidate will be assigned.

As we discussed earlier, when selecting an expatriate or a third-country national for the job, assuring that the candidate has the job factors, relational dimensions, motivational state, family situation, and language skills (or can learn) is a key consideration in hiring the right person. Some of the costs associated with failure of an expatriate or third-country national might include the following:

• Damage to host-country relationships
• Motivation of host-country staff
• Costs associated with recruitment and relocation
• Possible loss of that employee once he or she returns
• Missed opportunities to further develop the market

Because success on an overseas assignment has such complex factors, the selection process for this individual should be different from the selection process when hiring domestically. The process should start with the job analysis, as we discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” . The job analysis and job description should be different for the overseas assignment, since we know that certain competencies (besides technical ones) are important for success. Most of those competencies have little to do with the person’s ability to do the job but are related to his or her ability to do the job in a new cultural setting. These additional competencies (besides the skills needed for the job) may be considered:

• Experience working internationally
• Extroverted
• Stress tolerance
• Language skills
• Cultural experiences

Once the key success factors are determined, many of which can be based on previous overseas assignments successes, we can begin to develop a pool of internal candidates who possess the additional competencies needed for a successful overseas assignment.

To develop the pool, career development questions on the performance review can be asked to determine the employee’s interest in an overseas assignment. Interest is an important factor; otherwise, the chance of success is low. If there is interest, this person can be recorded as a possible applicant. An easy way to keep track of interested people is to keep a spreadsheet of interested parties, skills, languages spoken, cultural experiences, abilities, and how the candidates meet the competencies you have already developed.

Once an overseas assignment is open, you can view the pool of interested parties and choose the ones to interview who meet the competencies required for the particular assignment.

Figure 14.3 Sample Selection Process for Overseas Assignments

Much of the training may include cultural components, which were cited by 73 percent of successful expatriates as key ingredients to success (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010).

Training isn’t always easy, though. The goal is not to help someone learn a language or cultural traditions but to ensure they are immersed in the sociocultural aspects of the new culture they are living in. Roger N. Blakeney (Blakeney, 2006), an international business researcher, identifies two main pathways to adapting to a new culture. First, people adjust quickly from the psychological perspective but not the social one. Blakeney argues that adjusting solely from the psychological perspective does not make an effective expatriate. Although it may take more time to adjust, he says that to be fully immersed and to fully understand and be productive in a culture, the expatriate must also have sociocultural adaption. In other words, someone who can adjust from a sociocultural perspective ends up performing better because he or she has a deeper level of understanding of the culture. Determining whether your candidate can gain this deeper level would figure in your selection process.

Figure 14.4 Blakeney’s Model of Psychological versus Sociocultural Adaption

Source: Roger Blakeney, “Psychological Adjustment and Sociocultural Adaptation: Coping on International Assignments” (paper, Annual Meeting of Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA, 2006).

One of the key decisions in any global organization is whether training should be performed in-house or an outside company should be hired to provide the training. For example, Communicaid offers online and on-site training on a variety of topics listed. Whether in-house or external training is performed, there are five main components of training someone for an overseas assignment:

• Goal setting
• Managing family and stress
• Repatriation

Training on languages is a basic yet necessary factor to the success of the assignment. Although to many, English is the international business language, we shouldn’t discount the ability to speak the language of the country in which one is living. Consider Japan’s largest online retailer, Rakuten, Inc. It mandated that English will be the standard language by March 2012 (Thregold, 2010). Other employers, such as Nissan and Sony, have made similar mandates or have already implemented an English-only policy. Despite this, a large percentage of your employee’s time will be spent outside work, where mastery of the language is important to enjoy living in another country. In addition, being able to discuss and negotiate in the mother tongue of the country can give your employee greater advantages when working on an overseas assignment. Part of language, as we discussed in Chapter 9, isn’t only about what you say but also includes all the nonverbal aspects of language. Consider the following examples:

• In the United States, we place our palm upward and use one finger to call someone over. In Malaysia, this is only used for calling animals. In much of Europe, calling someone over is done with palm down, making a scratching motion with the fingers (as opposed to one finger in the United States). In Columbia, soft handclaps are used.
• In many business situations in the United States, it is common to cross your legs, pointing the soles of your shoes to someone. In Southeast Asia, this is an insult since the feet are the dirtiest and lowest part of the body.
• Spatial differences are an aspect of nonverbal language as well. In the United States, we tend to stand thirty-six inches (an arm length) from people, but in Chile, for example, the space is much smaller.
• Proper greetings of business colleagues differ from country to country.
• The amount of eye contact varies. For example, in the United States, it is normal to make constant eye contact with the person you are speaking with, but in Japan it would be rude to make constant eye contact with someone with more age or seniority.

The goal of cultural training is to train employees what the “norms” are in a particular culture. Many of these norms come from history, past experience, and values. Cultural training can include any of the following topics:

• Management styles
• Logistics aspects, such as transportation and currency

Cultural training is important. Although cultural implications are not often discussed openly, not understanding the culture can harm the success of a manager when on overseas assignment. For example, when Revlon expanded its business into Brazil, one of the first products it marketed was a Camellia flower scented perfume. What the expatriate managers didn’t realize is that the Camellia flower is used for funerals, so of course, the product failed in that country (Roy, 1998). Cultural implications, such as management style, are not always so obvious. Consider the US manager who went to Mexico to manage a production line. He applied the same management style that worked well in America, asking a lot of questions and opinions of employees. When employees started to quit, he found out later that employees expect managers to be the authority figure, and when the manager asked questions, they assumed he didn’t know what he was doing.

Training on the goals and expectations for the expatriate worker is important. Since most individuals take an overseas assignment to boost their careers, having clear expectations and understanding of what they are expected to accomplish sets the expatriate up for success.

Because moving to a new place, especially a new country, is stressful, it is important to train the employee on managing stress, homesickness, culture shock, and likely a larger workload than the employee may have had at home. Some stress results from insecurity and homesickness. It is important to note that much of this stress occurs on the family as well. The expatriate may be performing and adjusting well, but if the family isn’t, this can cause greater stress on the employee, resulting in a failed assignment. Four stages of expatriate stress identified in the Selyes model, the General Adaption Syndrome, are shown in Figure 14.5 “General Adaption Syndrome to Explain Expatriate Stress” . The success of overseas employees depends greatly on their ability to adjust, and training employees on the stages of adjustment they will feel may help ease this problem.

Cultural Differences

(click to see video)

These two videos discuss practical implications of cultural differences.

Figure 14.5 General Adaption Syndrome to Explain Expatriate Stress

Source: Bala Koteswari and Mousumi Bhattacharya, “Managing Expatriate Stress,” Delhi Business Review 8, no. 1 (2007): 89–98.

Spouses and children of the employee may also experience much of the stress the expatriate feels. Children’s attendance at new schools and lack of social networks, as well as possible sacrifice of a spouse’s career goal, can negatively impact the assignment. Many companies offer training not only for the employee but for the entire family when engaging in an overseas assignment. For example, global technology and manufacturing company Honeywell offers employees and their families a two-day cultural orientation on the region they will be living in (Klaff, 2002). Some of the reasons for lack of adjustment by family members might include the following:

• Language issues
• Social issues
• Medical services

The ability of the organization to meet these family needs makes for a more successful assignment. For example, development of an overseas network to provide social outlets, activities, schooling and housing options, assignment of mentors to the spouse, and other methods can help ease the transition.

Finally, repatriation is the process of helping employees make the transition to their home country. Many employees experience reverse culture shock upon returning home, which is a psychological phenomenon that can lead to feelings of fear, helplessness, irritability, and disorientation. All these factors can cause employees to leave the organization soon after returning from an assignment, and to take their knowledge with them. One problem with repatriation is that the expatriate and family have assumed things stayed the same at home, while in fact friends may have moved, friends changed, or new managers may have been hired along with new employees. Although the manager may be on the same level as other managers when he or she returns, the manager may have less informal authority and clout than managers who have been working in the particular office for a period of time. An effective repatriation program can cost $3,500 to $10,000 per family, but the investment is worth it given the critical skills the managers will have gained and can share with the organization. In fact, many expatriates fill leadership positions within organizations, leveraging the skills they gained overseas. One such example is FedEx president and CEO David Bronczek and executive vice president Michael Drucker. Tom Mullady, the manager of international compensation planning at FedEx, makes the case for a good repatriation program when he says, “As we become more and more global, it shows that experience overseas is leveraged back home” (Klaff, 2002).

Repatriation planning should happen before the employee leaves on assignment and should be a continuous process throughout the assignment and upon return. The process can include the following:

• Training and counseling on overseas assignment before leaving
• Clear understanding of goals before leaving, so the expatriate can have a clear sense as to what new skills and knowledge he or she will bring back home
• Job guarantee upon return (Deloitte and Touche, for example, discusses which job each of the two hundred expats will take after returning, before the person leaves, and offers a written letter of commitment (Klaff, 2002).)
• Assigning the expatriate a mentor, ideally a former expatriate
• Keeping communication from home open, such as company newsletters and announcements
• Free return trips home to stay in touch with friends and family
• Counseling (at Honeywell, employees and families go through a repatriation program within six months of returning (Klaff, 2002).)
• Sponsoring brown bag lunches where the expatriate can discuss what he or she learned while overseas
• Trying to place expatriates in positions where they can conduct business with employees and clients from where they lived

It is also important to note that offering an employee an international assignment can help develop that person’s understanding of the business, management style, and other business-related development. Working overseas can be a crucial component to succession planning. It can also be a morale booster for other employees, who see that the chosen expatriate is further able to develop his or her career within the organization.

While the focus of this section has been on expatriate assignments, the same information on training is true for third-country nationals.

If it is decided that host-country nationals will be hired, different training considerations might occur. For example, will they spend some time at your domestic corporate headquarters to learn the business, then apply what they learned when they go home? Or, does it make more sense to send a domestic manager overseas to train the host-country manager and staff? Training will obviously vary based on the type of business and the country, and it may make sense to gain input from host-country managers as opposed to developing training on your own. As we have already discussed in this chapter, an understanding of the cultural components is the first step to developing training that can be utilized in any country.

Compensation and Rewards

There are a few options when choosing compensation for a global business. The first option is to maintain companywide pay scales and policies, so for example, all sales staff are paid the same no matter what country they are in. This can reduce inequalities and simplify recording keeping, but it does not address some key issues. First, this compensation policy does not address that it can be much more expensive to live in one place versus another. A salesperson working in Japan has much higher living expenses than a salesperson working in Peru, for example. As a result, the majority of organizations thus choose to use a pay banding system based on regions, such as South America, Europe, and North America. This is called a localized compensation strategy . Microsoft and Kraft Foods both use this approach. This method provides the best balance of cost-of-living considerations.

However, regional pay banding is not necessarily the ideal solution if the goal is to motivate expatriates to move. For example, if the employee has been asked to move from Japan to Peru and the salary is different, by half, for example, there is little motivation for that employee to want to take an assignment in Peru, thus limiting the potential benefits of mobility for employees and for the company.

One possible option is to pay a similar base salary companywide or regionwide and offer expatriates an allowance based on specific market conditions in each country (Carland, 1993). This is called the balance sheet approach . With this compensation approach, the idea is that the expatriate should have the same standard of living that he or she would have had at home. Four groups of expenses are looked at in this approach:

• Income taxes
• Goods and services
• Base salary
• Overseas premium

The HR professional would estimate these expenses within the home country and costs for the same items in the host country. The employer then pays differences. In addition, the base salary will normally be in the same range as the home-country salary, and an overseas premium might be paid owing to the challenge of an overseas assignment. An overseas premium is an additional bonus for agreeing to take an overseas assignment. There are many companies specializing in cost-of-living data, such as Mercer Reports. It provides cost-of-living information at a cost of $600 per year. Table 14.6 “The Balance Sheet Approach to Compensation” shows a hypothetical example of how the balance sheet approach would work.

Table 14.6 The Balance Sheet Approach to Compensation

Other compensation issues, which will vary greatly from country to country, might include the following:

• The cost of benefits in another country. Many countries offer universal health care (offset by higher taxes), and therefore the employee would have health benefits covered while working and paying taxes in that country. Canada, Finland, and Japan are examples of countries that have this type of coverage. In countries such as Singapore, all residents receive a catastrophic policy from the government, but they need to purchase additional insurance for routine care (Countries with Universal Healthcare, 2011). A number of organizations offer health care for expatriates relocating to another country in which health care is not already provided.
• Legally mandated (or culturally accepted) amount of vacation days. For example, in Australia twenty paid vacation days are required, ten in Canada, thirty in Finland, and five in the Philippines. The average number of US worker vacation days is fifteen, although the number of days is not federally mandated by the government, as with the other examples (Sahadi, 2007).
• Legal requirements of profit sharing. For example, in France, the government heavily regulates profit sharing programs (Wilke, et. al., 2007).
• Pay system that works with the country culture, such as pay systems based on seniority. For example, Chinese culture focuses heavily on seniority, and pay scales should be developed according to seniority. In Figure 14.6 “Hourly World Compensation Comparisons for Manufacturing Jobs” , examples of hourly compensation for manufacturing workers are compared.
• Thirteenth month (bonus) structures and expected (sometimes mandated) annual lump-sum payments. Compensation issues are a major consideration in motivating overseas employees. A systematic system should be in place to ensure fairness in compensation for all expatriates.

Figure 14.6 Hourly World Compensation Comparisons for Manufacturing Jobs

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of International Labor Comparisons, International Comparisons of Hourly Compensation costs in Manufacturing, 2009, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ichcc.toc.htm (accessed September 16, 2011).

Performance Evaluations

The challenge in overseas performance evaluations is determining who should rate the performance of the expatriate. While it might make sense to have the host-country employees and managers rate the expatriate, cultural differences may make this process ineffective. Cultural challenges may make the host country rate the expatriate more harshly, or in some cases, such as Indonesia, harmony is more important than productivity, so it may be likely an Indonesia employee or manager rates the expatriate higher, to keep harmony in the workplace (Whitfield, 2011).

If the home-country manager rates the performance of the expatriate, he or she may not have a clear indication of the performance, since the manager and expatriate do not work together on a day-to-day basis. A study performed by Gregersen, Hite, and Black suggests that a balanced set of raters from host and home countries and more frequent appraisals relate positively to the accuracy of performance evaluations (Gregersen, et. al., 1996). They also suggest that the use of a standardized form relates negatively to perceived accuracy. Carrie Shearer, an international HR expert, concurs by stating that the standardized form, if used, should also include special aspects for the expatriate manager, such as how well the expatriate fits in with the culture and adaptation ability (Shearer, 2004).

Besides determining who should rate the expatriate’s performance, the HR professional should determine the criteria for evaluating the expatriate. Since it is likely the expatriate’s job will be different overseas, the previous criteria used may not be helpful in the evaluation process. The criteria used to rate the performance should be determined ahead of time, before the expatriate leaves on assignment. This is part of the training process we discussed earlier. Having a clear picture of the rating criteria for an overseas assignment makes it both useful for the development of the employee and for the organization as a tool. A performance appraisal also offers a good opportunity for the organization to obtain feedback about how well the assignment is going and to determine whether enough support is being provided to the expatriate.

The International Labor Environment

As we have already alluded to in this chapter, understanding of laws and how they relate to host-country employees and expatriates can vary from country to country. Because of this, individual research on laws in the specific countries is necessary to ensure adherence:

• Worker safety laws
• Worker compensation laws
• Safety requirements
• Working age restrictions
• Maternity/paternity leaves
• Unionization laws
• Vacation time requirements
• Average work week hours
• Privacy laws
• Disability laws
• Multiculturalism and diverse workplace, antidiscrimination law

As you can tell from this list, the considerable HRM factors when doing business overseas should be thoroughly researched.

One important factor worth mentioning here is labor unions. As you remember from Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions” , labor unions have declined in membership in the United States. Collective bargaining is the process of developing an employment contract between a union and management within an organization. The process of collective bargaining can range from little government involvement to extreme government involvement as in France, for example, where some of the labor unions are closely tied with political parties in the country.

Some countries, such as Germany, engage in codetermination , mandated by the government. Codetermination is the practice of company shareholders’ and employees’ being represented in equal numbers on the boards of organizations, for organizations with five hundred or more employees. The advantage of this system is the sharing of power throughout all levels of the organization; however, some critics feel it is not the place of government to tell companies how their corporation should be run. The goal of such a mandate is to reduce labor conflict issues and increase bargaining power of workers.

Taxation of expatriates is an important aspect of international HRM. Of course, taxes are different in every country, and it is up to the HR professional to know how taxes will affect the compensation of the expatriate. The United States has income tax treaties with forty-two countries, meaning taxing authorities of treaty countries can share information (such as income and foreign taxes paid) on residents living in other countries. US citizens must file a tax return, even if they have not lived in the United States during the tax year. US taxpayers claim over $90 billion in foreign tax credits on a yearly basis (Internal Revenue Service, 2011). Foreign tax credits allow expatriates working abroad to claim taxes paid overseas on their US tax forms, reducing or eliminating double taxation. Many organizations with expatriate workers choose to enlist the help of tax accountants for their workers to ensure workers are paying the correct amount of taxes both abroad and in the United States.

Table 14.7 Examples of HRM-Related Law Differences between the United States and China

Source: Harris and Moure, pllc, “China Employment Contracts, Ten Things to Consider,” China Law Blog , http://www.chinalawblog.com/2010/04/china_employment_contracts_ten.html (accessed August 13, 2011) and Cindy Zhang, “Employment Law in China,” June 21, 2011, http://www.attorneycz.com/ (accessed August 13, 2011).

Logistics of International Assignments

As you learned earlier, providing training for the expatriate is an important part of a successful assignment. However, many of the day-to-day aspects of living are important, too.

One of the most important logistical aspects is to make sure the employee can legally work in the country where you will be sending him or her, and ensuring his or her family has appropriate documentation as well. A visa is permission from the host country to visit, live, or work in that country. Obtaining visas is normally the job of an HR professional. For example, the US Department of State and the majority of countries require that all US citizens have a valid passport to travel to a foreign country. This is the first step to ensuring your host-country national or third-country national can travel and work in that country.

Next, understanding the different types of visas is a component to this process. For example, the United States offers a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that allows some nationals of thirty-six participating countries to travel to the United States for stays of less than ninety days. Iceland, Singapore, and France are examples of countries that participate in this program. For most host-national assignments, however, this type of visa may not be long enough, which then requires research of the individual country. It is important to mention that most countries have several types of visas, such as the following:

• Visas for crew members working on ships or airlines
• Tourist visas
• Student visas
• Employment visas for long-term employment at a foreign company
• Business visas

The visa process and time line can vary greatly depending on the country for which the visa is required. For example, obtaining a visa to work in China may take six months or longer. The best place to research this topic is on the country’s embassy website.

Besides ensuring the expatriate can legally work in the country, other considerations are worth mentioning as well:

• Housing. Where will I live is one of the most important questions that an expatriate may ask. The HR professional can help this process by outsourcing a leasing or rental company in the city where the expatriate will live to find a rental that meets the expectations of the expatriate. Choosing a place to live ahead of time can reduce stress (one of the causes of failure for assignments) for the expatriate and his or her family. Allowances may be made for housing costs, as discussed in the compensation section.
• Moving belongings. Determination of how belongings left behind will be stored at home or if those items will be brought to the host country is another logistical consideration. If items will be brought, beyond what can be carried in a suitcase, the HR professional may want to consider hiring a moving logistics company that specializes in expatriate moves to help with this process.
• The possibility of return trips home. As part of the initial discussion, the option of offering return trips home can make repatriation and performance reviews with home-country managers easier. This also gives the expatriate and his or her family the opportunity to visit with family and friends, reducing reverse culture shock upon return.
• Schooling. Some organizations may want to provide information on the schooling system to the expatriate, if he or she has children. Schools begin at different times of the year, and this information can make the registration process for school easier on the family.
• Spousal job. We know already from earlier in this chapter that one of the biggest challenges facing expatriates (and reasons for failure) is unhappiness of the spouse. He or she may have had a career at home and given that up while the spouse takes an assignment. HR professionals might consider offering job search services as part of the allowance discussed earlier in this chapter. Lockheed Martin, for example, offers job search services to spouses moving overseas (Minehan, 2011).

In any situation, support from the HR professional will help make the assignment a success, which shows that HRM practices should be aligned with company goals.

How Would You Handle This?

Your manager has just notified you that one of your marketing managers has taken an assignment in China to work for one year. You tell your manager you will begin the visa process for employment. She disagrees and tells you it will be quicker to just get a tourist visa. You mention this is illegal and could get the employee and company in trouble, but she insists on your getting a tourist visa so the employee can leave within the month. How would you handle this?

Key Takeaways

• Personality traits are a key component to determining whether someone is a good fit for an overseas assignment. Since 73 percent of overseas assignments fail, ensuring the right match up front is important.
• The ideal expatriate is able to deal with change, is flexible, and has the support of his or her family. Ideal expatriates are also organized, take risks, and are good at asking for help.
• The adjustment period an expatriate goes through depends on his or her initial preparation. Blakeney said there are two levels of adjustment: psychological adjustment and sociocultural adjustment. Although the psychological may take less time, it is the sociocultural adjustment that will allow the assignment to be successful.
• Training is a key component in the HRM global plan, whether expatriates or host-country nationals are to be hired. Both will require a different type of training. Training can reduce culture shock and stress.
• Consideration of the expatriate’s family and their ability to adjust can make a more successful overseas assignment
• Compensation is another consideration of a global business. The balance sheet approach pays the expatriate extra allowances, such as living expenses, for taking an international assignment.
• Other considerations such as vacation days, health-care benefits, and profit-sharing programs are important as well.
• Laws of each country should be carefully evaluated from an HRM strategic perspective. Laws relating to disabilities, pregnancy, and safety, for example, should be understood before doing business overseas.
• Labor unions have different levels of involvement in different parts of the world. For example, Germany has codetermination , a policy that requires companies to have employees sit on various boards.
• The United States has treaties with forty-two countries to share information about expatriates. The United States offers foreign tax credits to help expatriates avoid double taxation. However, US citizens must file taxes every year, even if they have not lived in the United States during that year.
• Logistical help can be important to ensuring the success of an overseas assignment. Help with finding a place to live, finding a job for a spouse, and moving can make the difference between a successful assignment and an unsuccessful one.
• The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program in which nationals of thirty-six countries can enter the United States for up to a ninety-day period. This type of visa may not work well for expatriates, so it is important to research the type of visa needed from a particular country by using that country’s embassy website.
• Research the country of your choice. Discuss at least five of the aspects you should know as an HRM professional about doing business in that country.

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Gregersen, H., Julie Hite, and Steward Black, “Expatriate Performance Appraisal in US Multinational Firms,” Journal of International Business Studies 27, no. 4 (1996): 711–38.

Internal Revenue Service, “Foreign Tax Credit,” accessed August 13, 2011, http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=183263,00.html .

Klaff, L. G., “The Right Way to Bring Expats Home,” BNET , July 2002, accessed August 12, 2011, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FXS/is_7_81/ai_89269493/ .

Minehan, M., “Six Job Search Tips for Expatriate Spouses,” n.d., Expatica, accessed August 12, 2011, http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/six-job-search-tips-for-expatriate-spouses-327_9125.html .

Roy, S., “Brand Failures: A Consumer Perspective to Formulate a MNC Entry Strategy” (postgraduate diploma, XLRI School of Business and Human Resources, 1998), accessed August 12, 2011, http://sudiptaroy.tripod.com/dissfin.pdf .

Sahadi, J., “Who Gets the Most (and Least) Vacation” CNN Money , June 14, 2007, accessed August 11, 2011, http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/12/pf/vacation_days_worldwide/ .

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