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Satisfaction with an expatriate job: The role of physical and functional distance between expatriate and supervisor

Liisa Mäkelä (School of Management, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)
Hilpi Kangas (School of Management, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)
Vesa Suutari (School of Management, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)

Journal of Global Mobility

ISSN: 2049-8799

Article publication date: 7 October 2019

Issue publication date: 22 October 2019

564

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on satisfaction with an expatriate job and how such satisfaction is linked to leadership. Specifically, this research examines how two different kinds of distances – physical distance and functional distance – between an expatriate and his/her supervisor are related to satisfaction with the expatriate job.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted among 290 Finnish expatriates. Moderated hierarchical regression analysis was conducted in order to test the research hypothesis.

Findings

The results show that low functional distance with a supervisor is related to greater satisfaction with the expatriate job. The physical distance is not directly connected to expatriate job satisfaction, but the common effect of the two types of distance shows that among those whose functional distance is low, working in the same country with the leader is linked to greater expatriate satisfaction than recorded among those who were physically distant. Interestingly, expatriates with high functional distance are more satisfied with the expatriate job if they work in a different country to their supervisor.

Originality/value

This study makes a contribution in three areas; first, it addresses the understudied phenomena of international work-specific job satisfaction, specifically satisfaction with an expatriate job. Second, it provides new knowledge on the outcomes of leader distance in the context of expatriation, a work situation that is inherently related to changes in physical location and to organizational relationships. Third, it contributes to leadership literature and highlights the importance of the conditions and the context in which leadership occurs.

Keywords

Citation

Mäkelä, L., Kangas, H. and Suutari, V. (2019), "Satisfaction with an expatriate job: The role of physical and functional distance between expatriate and supervisor", Journal of Global Mobility, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 255-268. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGM-04-2019-0025

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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