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The purpose of this paper is to report on perceptions of an Executive MBA (EMBA) experience to the development of Chinese managers’ careers.

This qualitative research drew on in‐depth interviews with a sample of alumni from two business schools in China. Narrative analysis focused on career competency development.

Chinese managers perceived the career outcomes of undertaking the EMBA and reported “knowing‐whom” benefits such as sharing information, building reputation and exchanging acquired knowledge, “knowing‐how” namely as a source of learning and “knowing‐why” namely work‐life balance.

The research presents a small sample and so cannot be applicable to the wider population. It is exploratory in nature and intended to encourage debate over the perceived importance of career competencies accrued from EMBA studies in an Eastern context.

The paper adds to existing research on career competency development through the EMBA experience. It offers insights into Chinese managers’ networking ability to put people together and to acquire information, opportunities and resources for career management and development purposes.

This paper seeks to explore the perceived value of an executive MBA (EMBA) to the development of knowing‐who competency for Taiwanese women managers.

This qualitative research drew on in‐depth interviews with a sample of 18 female alumni across three business schools in Taiwan. Analysis, using NVivo 8.0, focused on individual perceptions of the development of knowing‐who, through networks.

Women emphasized the benefits of acquiring and developing networks from undertaking the EMBA. Cultural values impacted women's perceptions of networking.

This is an exploratory piece with limited generalisability, however, it indicates the perceived importance of networking to female EMBA students within the Asian context.

Findings extend previous research on the acquisition and development of networks through the EMBA experience. The salience of networking for women is established. The clarification of age or career stage in research on women's careers is needed.

The paper aims to contribute to the discussion about how SIEs articulate narratives as cognitive efforts to expand, restrict or adapt their repertoire of identities in highly regulated environments.

Drawing from a social constructivist positioning, the paper explores situated social and relational practices using a qualitative framework that relied on primary data gathering through semi‐structured interviews. Qatar is a context of particular interest for exploring identity narratives of SIEs given the highly regulated environment and the large numbers of non‐nationals within the overall workforce. The study was conducted in an anonymous Qatari public shareholding company.

Findings suggest that narratives of self are framed in relation to structural constraints and patterns of adaptation. These reveal the interplay between identity, careers and self‐initiated expatriation at macro‐country and micro‐individual levels. As part of these themes, narratives of mobility and opportunity emerged in reference to career experiences and discussions about themselves (lives, identities, and expectations).

The paper contributes to our current understanding of SIEs and encourages us to consider the importance of context in shaping the SIE experience. Similarly, the scarcity of literature about SIEs in GCC countries makes this paper a timely contribution. These contributions have significant implications not only for theoretical discussions about SIEs, but also for discussions on the interplay between migration, identity and global careers.

Explains that the extent and pace of change throughout British industry has been increasingly dramatically, resulting in major job losses, and the remaining employees or survivors of such change often experience the effects as deeply as those who are made redundant. Notes that, although many organizations invest time and resource in exiting people, they do little to help those who stay, and yet the successful transformation of organizations relies heavily on managing these people through the transitions. Examines data from a case study of British Telecom and survey data from the financial services sector. Illustrates, from the combination of case and survey data, the impact of such organizational change on the survivors. Indicates that few organizations appear to provide structured help at the appropriate level and intensity. Suggests that organizations will have to do more for their survivors to establish a new psychological contract.

The current rhetoric about the demise of traditional concepts of “career” poses a challenge to organizations which rely on the development of managerial talent through fast‐track programmes. Reports on the career management philosophy, strategy, policy and practice of 20 organizations which are major graduate recruiters. Human resource and career management specialists responsible for fast‐track recruitment and career development within these companies provided information via semi‐structured interviews. Data were analysed using content and thematic analysis with the aid of a qualitative data analysis package to elicit patterns and trends in the approaches being used. Organizations varied in the extent to which they were attempting to achieve a shift in the employment relationship offered to graduates. Symbolic shifts were being generated through both cultural and process changes in an attempt to move from a traditional notion of career to a transactional‐type relationship with graduates, based on opportunities for development.

This paper aims to offer a critical review of how self‐initiated expatriation (SIE) is theorized compared to migration in the management literature and to indicate venues for future research on SIE.

A systematic review has been conducted using the ISI Web of Knowledge database as well as ABI/INFORM in order to include key journals in the management field.

Despite the importance of present theorizations on SIE, the authors show that the literature presents a narrow focus on the most privileged of self‐initiated expatriates and presents some important knowledge gaps. In order to fill these gaps, the authors propose a research map for future research on SIE. This map includes four key dimensions. These are: diversity‐informed research on SIE; context specific and multilevel understanding of SIE; reflexive approaches to SIE; triangulated methods to studying SIE.

By proposing a research map with theoretical and methodological implications, this paper increases our understanding of SIE. It offers a guide for future research on SIEs.

Research on self‐initiated expatriation needs to be more inclusive and critical in terms of studying the diverse human resources in our contemporary societies.

The paper indicates how research on self‐initiated expatriation can become more developed in terms of its theorizations. Furthermore, it proposes a research map for future studies on SIE that is reflexive, relational, diversity‐informed, and methodologically‐triangulated.

The purpose of this paper is to report a qualitative study with British women managers, which explored the career competencies accrued from undertaking an Executive MBA (EMBA).

The research drew on in‐depth interviews with a sample of 18 female alumni from three British business schools. Data were analyzed using NVivo 8.0. within the career‐competencies framework of Knowing‐how, Knowing‐why and Knowing‐whom.

Women aged between 30 and 34 years emphasized the importance of gaining confidence (Knowing‐why) and skills (Knowing‐how) while those aged between 35 and 45 years focused on developing networks (Knowing‐whom). This study suggests that age and career stage may have considerable impact on perceptions of acquired career competencies.

This is an exploratory piece with limited generalisability; however, it exposes the need to clarify the concept of career stage for women.

Business schools have historically stressed the career benefits of MBA programmes in terms of improved capital and of changing career directions. This research indicates that an EMBA may offer a more level playing field for women with respect to networking activities. In the competitive global environment, business schools may benefit from more fully exploring career competencies, such as networking skills, for increasing the appeal of EMBA programmes. The paper also draws attention to the need for HR managers to increase efforts for improving women's career competencies.

Findings extend previous research on the development of career competencies from an EMBA, indicating the importance of developing networks, particularly at mid‐career. The paper highlights the need to redefine women's mid‐career stage.

Explains that fast‐track programmes have traditionally been the preferred mechanism for recruiting and developing high potential graduates to become the senior management cadre of the future. However, many recent changes within organizations have led to more fluid structures that no longer support traditional hierarchical career progression opportunities. Presents a qualitative study of 20 major fast‐track recruiters which was designed to explore the philosophies, strategies, and human resource management policies and practices used to manage the careers of the fast‐track population, within the current context. Demonstrates that for many organizations, owing to internal and external changes, there has been a shift in career philosophy. Organizations are revising their career management policies and practices, to reflect the “new deal” offered to fast‐track graduates. Highlights some apparent paradoxes between organizations’ career philosophies, policies and practices and the fast‐track philosophy.

Drawing on career and self‐initiated expatriation/repatriation literatures, this paper aims to examine the career experiences of Chinese self‐initiated repatriates after their return to China.

The authors conducted an exploratory, qualitative study involving in‐depth interviews with 20 Chinese individuals who returned to China after spending at least three years living, studying and/or working in a range of “host” countries.

This study shows that the career agency of Chinese returnees reflects both independent and interdependent factors. It provides specific empirical support for Tams and Arthur's argument that career agency is impacted by both individual and contextual factors.

The findings indicate the central role played by individual proactivity and contextual influences during self‐initiated repatriation. The small sample size allows for rich data, but limits the generalizability of the findings.

Managerial practices that address the unique career values and expectations of self‐initiated repatriates can facilitate the application of skills and knowledge acquired abroad to the local context. Policy makers should provide more institutional support to encourage and facilitate the return of overseas Chinese.

This study is among only a small number to explore the experiences of self‐initiated repatriates in developing countries. Recent research has addressed the importance of recognizing and identifying the boundaries that constrain and enable global careers. This study identifies a number of such boundaries and also adds to the understanding of the challenges and difficulties of repatriation.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Recent times have witnessed unprecedented economic expansion in China. The rich vein of business opportunities generated as a result means that competition between firms is more intense than ever. Only those best equipped will be able to fully exploit the openings made available to them. Effective leadership often separates top-performing organizations from the also-rans. That much is hardly a secret. It is equally no surprise to learn that demand for managerial talent in China continues to soar while the economy remains in such rude health. The growing requirement for highly-competent leaders has heightened attention on the need to better educate and develop those already in management roles. One major consequence of this is more emphasis on qualifications like the Executive MBA (EMBA). Interest in EMBA programs is rising and a significant number of them are now available across the country.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to digest format.