The family as a developmental issue in expatriate assignments
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to highlight the central role of family adjustment in expatiate effectiveness, and presents it as a developmental issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature reviews were used to create this article.
Findings
Though family adjustment appears among the top reasons for expatriate assignment failure, the family as an interdependent system is regularly overlooked in expatriate preparation. This paper offers a family systems perspective and developmental techniques for expatriate family preparation.
Practical implications
More focused attention to the family system in expatriate assignments – as learning and development issue, rather than a “managed” corporate issue – may well address much of the cause of expatriate failure.
Originality/value
While existing literature concerning expatriate failure is increasingly extensive, very little of it attends to family system concerns and issues. Moreover, none of the literature treats family adjustment as a phenomenon for developmental activity.
Keywords
Citation
Chiotis‐Leskowich, I. (2009), "The family as a developmental issue in expatriate assignments", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 23 No. 6, pp. 4-7. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777280910994831
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited