Expatriate‐local interactions: an investigation in China

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to build on recent research, by investigating and examining how likely it is that Chinese locals (i.e. host country nationals (HCNs)) would offer support to expatriates from India and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from 222 participants in Chinese organizations, asking them to respond to questions about their willingness to offer support to expatriates.

Findings

As predicted, perceived values similarity was significantly related to higher dogmatism, which had a significant positive relationship with ethnocentrism. Further, ethnocentrism had a significant negative relationship with willingness to offer support.

Research limitations/implications

All data were collected from the participants at one point in time, so the study's results are subject to common method bias. Also, it only included India and the USA, as the two countries of origin of the expatriates.

Practical implications

Given HCNs do not automatically offer support to all expatriates, organizations might consider sending expatriates who are culturally similar to HCNs, as they are more likely to receive support, which will help their adjustment and thus organizational effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study adds to the small, but growing, number of empirical investigations of HCN willingness to support expatriates.

Citation

Varma, A., Pichler, S., Budhwar, P. and Kupferer, S. (2012), "Expatriate‐local interactions: an investigation in China", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 27 No. 7, pp. 753-768. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941211259557