Expatriates

Expatriates are employees who go overseas to accomplish a job-related goal. To remain competitive in the world marketplace or to obtain new marketing opportunities, multinational companies (MNCs) are sending increasing numbers of expatriates on international assignments. In fact, recent research estimates that more than 250,000 Americans currently are serving as expatriates on international assignments. This number is expected to continue to increase with further economic globalization.

There exist several characteristics shared by expatriates. Foremost, expatriates are expected to accomplish assignments in a different country or culture. This change typically introduces expatriates and their families to new living and working environments. A second characteristic of expatriates is that their international assignments are usually complex in nature. For example, many MNCs expect the expatriates to open a new market, transfer skills, and build good public relations with local organizations and medias. Because of the complexity of these assignments, most expatriates tend to be senior mangers whose jobs involve a high degree of responsibility. In fact, expatriates' performances can directly affect the success of their respective MNCs' competitive standing in the global marketplace. A third characteristic of expatriates is that they are usually expected to complete their assignments in a predesignated time period (usually ranging from 6 months to 5 years). After this time period, expatriates are sent back to their home country [Page 233]and assigned to a new position, a process termed repatriation.