Improving expatriate adjustment: a social network perspective
ISSN: 2049-8799
Article publication date: 29 January 2020
Issue publication date: 12 June 2020
Abstract
Purpose
While the value of connections with host-country nationals (HCNs) for expatriate adjustment is well established, there is little guidance regarding which HCNs stand to benefit expatriates most. The purpose of this paper is to utilize a social network perspective to build theory to explain how and why expatriates who are connected to a central HCN are more likely to adjust. This study offers explicit guidance for steps parent country management can take to assist expatriates in the development of valuable connections with HCNs, even while thousands of miles away from the expatriate’s new locale.
Design/methodology/approach
This study takes a social network approach to build theory that will improve understanding of the expatriate experience.
Findings
Because central individuals tend to be embedded in the organization, their embeddedness is likely to spread to expatriates with whom they are in close contact with. Links to central HCNs are posited to contribute to improved work adjustment by enabling expatriates to attain a better understanding of workplace requirements and workplace norms.
Practical implications
Management can take steps to identify central HCNs using social network analysis and introduce expatriates to highly central HCNs to help improve expatriate adjustment.
Originality/value
This study answers explicit calls in the literature for a greater exploration of social interaction of expatriates in understanding the expatriate experience, as well as calls for taking a more active role in the management of informal relationships. This study is the first to discuss implications of the HCN’s network to expatriate outcomes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Maria Kraimer for her helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper.
Citation
Pustovit, S. (2020), "Improving expatriate adjustment: a social network perspective", Journal of Global Mobility, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 55-65. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGM-05-2018-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited