International assignment failures cost an organization roughly 3 to 4 times an expatriate's annual salary with the most expatriate failures cited for work assignments in China. Previous scholarly research identified cultural intelligence (CQ) as being influential to expatriate work outcomes. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationships among a subset of CQ predictor variables and work outcome related dependent variables. Quantitative analysis regarding the relationship between CQ and work outcomes for U.S. nationals working in China does not currently exist in the scholarly research. Improvement of expatriate work outcomes and reduction of failed assignment costs is the intention. The study included self-reported measurements collected via online surveys from 88 U.S. nationals with work experience in China. Pearson correlation test results and multiple linear regression analysis indicated significant predictive relationships between CQ and work performance (F(4, 83) = 8.202, p < .001, adjusted R2 = .249) and between CQ and job satisfaction (F(4, 83) = 3.522, p < .05, adjusted R2 = .104). Motivational CQ had a statistically significant predictive power for work performance and job satisfaction. These findings suggest that the CQ construct may help to assess expatriate assignment readiness. The social change implications of this study include the utilization of CQ in better identification, selection, and training of employees for international assignments; improvement of expatriate work outcomes; reduction of expatriate turnover; and reduction of expatriate assignment costs.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of four racialized, male, first-year, international students attending a university in southern Ontario and living in university residence. Through four one-on-one interviews, my qualitative study sought to uncover the challenges, needs, and opportunities of these students. In addition to cultural and academic adjustment, my study focused on how the participants preserved their masculine and cultural/religious identities in a Western university. A secondary purpose of my study was to examine how these four international students experienced living in university residences, what challenges they faced, and how their specific needs were met. Four themes emerged from the interviews. First, the participants outlined their difficulties adjusting to Canadian university culture. While some enjoyed the transition to Canada, others found adjusting their cultural identities challenging. Second, these participants struggled to adjust to the academic rigour and workload during their first year at university. Despite the demands of university academics, the participants generally welcomed the freedom and flexibility of university life, which allowed them to create their own work schedules and engage in their social lives. Third, the participants maintained their masculine and cultural identities, to more or lesser degrees, despite being immersed in the social and cultural norms of Canadian university life. While some felt isolated within Queen’s University because of their different cultural and masculine identities, overall, these participants valued their own identities and resolved to preserve them. Finally, the participants discussed the benefits and challenges of living in university residences. While residences tended to provide the participants with a sense of community and belonging, sometimes it was challenging living in a loud and hectic environment. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-19 17:28:16.91

China is the top sending country of international students to Western universities. Chinese students can benefit a country's economy and aid in internationalizing campuses, providing opportunities for students to develop global competencies. However, as the number of Chinese students is increasing, so is the awareness of their difficulties in acculturating to the Western system of higher education. The literature attributes some of these difficulties to cultural, academic, and social factors. Filling a gap in the research, this cross-level study compares the preparation programs of four different types of secondary institutions. Results of surveys and interviews were correlated between faculty and alumni evaluating satisfaction and effectiveness of university preparation. The students generally were satisfied with their preparation training as compared to the faculty at the secondary schools. Results of this study will help bridge the gap of eradicating the difficulties Chinese students face in the Western higher education system.

This study examines the expatriate spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment to the host country. The cross-cultural adjustment experience of the expatriate spouse differs vastly from that of the expatriate. Literature was consulted to understand the cardinal role that the spouse portrays during an expatriate assignment and to highlight the importance of a well-adjusted spouse. This study engaged in qualitative research methodology using five expatriate spouses residing in Rome, Italy. Spouses were from two different countries and represented different age groups. Data collection methods included interviews and a focus group session to gain an in-depth understanding of spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment experiences. Results showed that spouses arriving in the host country experienced a loss of identity. Identity in this study was divided into three categories namely personal, situational and social. Once spouses went through a period of identity reformation they were able to become well-adjusted spouses. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

In today’s global business environment, multinational companies recognise that expatriate management is a major determinant of success in international business. Expatriates do not only face changes in the work environment but face a full range of cultural, personal and lifestyle changes that influence the success of an international assignment. This study investigates the relationship between cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment. A quantitative longitudinal study was conducted within two phases to explore a European multinational companies cross-cultural training programme and its effects on expatriate adjustment in South Africa. Overseas experience, language proficiency, spousal adjustment, cultural distance and host country friendships were also explored as antecedents of adjustment. The empirical study included descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment. While previous overseas experience showed a significant positive influence on sociocultural adjustment, it had no significant effect on psychological well-being or culture shock. Cultural distance displayed a significant negative influence on sociocultural adjustment and psychological well-being / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com.

This study examines the expatriate spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment to the host country. The cross-cultural adjustment experience of the expatriate spouse differs vastly from that of the expatriate. Literature was consulted to understand the cardinal role that the spouse portrays during an expatriate assignment and to highlight the importance of a well-adjusted spouse. This study engaged in qualitative research methodology using five expatriate spouses residing in Rome, Italy. Spouses were from two different countries and represented different age groups. Data collection methods included interviews and a focus group session to gain an in-depth understanding of spouses’ cross-cultural adjustment experiences. Results showed that spouses arriving in the host country experienced a loss of identity. Identity in this study was divided into three categories namely personal, situational and social. Once spouses went through a period of identity reformation they were able to become well-adjusted spouses. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Face à la mondialisation et à une demande accrue de ressources humaines hautement qualifiées, les pays en voie de développement, en général, font face à une mobilité internationale de leurs professionnels de la santé vers les pays développés. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier les déterminants des intentions liées à la mobilité internationale des professionnels de la santé d’origine étrangère (hors U.E) résidant en France. À cet effet, un modèle de recherche a été élaboré à partir de la théorie de l’adaptation interculturelle et des travaux conduits sur le management des carrières et la théorie des ancres de carrières. Notre recherche prend ainsi en compte trois grandes composantes : (i) l’adaptation interculturelle (au travail, à l’interaction, et générale), (ii) le plafonnement de carrière structurel et la satisfaction dans la carrière, et enfin (iii) le rôle des ancres de carrière principalement les ancres de « stabilité géographique » et « internationale ». Il s’agit de préciser l’incidence de ces 3 composantes sur l’intention (a) de retour au pays d’origine, (b) de partir dans un pays tiers, (c) de rester en France. À la suite d’une revue de la littérature, des hypothèses de recherche ont été émises. Les données ont été collectées, par questionnaires, auprès des professionnels de la santé d’origine étrangère résidant en France (PSOE). Les analyses statistiques ont été effectuées sur un échantillon de 317 réponses. Les principaux résultats obtenus montrent d’une part que l’adaptation interculturelle en France n’a pas un effet significatif ni sur l’intention de retour au pays d’origine, ni sur l’intention de partir dans un pays tiers. Par contre, l’adaptation à l’interaction a un effet significatif et positif sur l’intention de rester en France. D’autre part, le plafonnement de carrière structurel est significativement et positivement associé à l’intention de retour au pays d’origine et à l’intention de partir dans un pays tiers. On notera que la satisfaction vis-à-vis de la carrière est seulement significativement reliée à l’intention de rester en France. La justice organisationnelle distributive a quant à elle une influence significative et positive sur l’adaptation générale et sur le sentiment de satisfaction dans la carrière, et d’autre part un effet négatif et significatif sur le sentiment de plafonnement de carrière structurel. Nos résultats soulignent enfin l’influence des ancres de carrière sur les intentions liées à la mobilité internationale. Des variables de contrôle d’ordre sociodémographique, décisionnel, et contextuel jouent également un rôle dans la dynamique de la mobilité internationale des PSOE. Les résultats obtenus nous ont permis de dégager, entre autres, des implications managériales et pratiques susceptibles d’encourager, d’une part, le retour des PSOE dans leur pays d’origine mais aussi leur maintien en France. Des limites et des perspectives futures de recherche sont également soulignées dans la conclusion. / In the context of globalization and a growing demand for highly qualified human resources, many healthcare professionals from the developing countries are now moving on their own initiative to the developed countries. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the determinants of international mobility intentions among foreign-born (outside the UE) healthcare professionals living in France. In this respect, we have built a research model based on the research on careers management and the theories related to cross-cultural adjustment and career anchors. Our research takes into account three main dimensions: (i) cross-cultural adjustment (to work, to interacting with host nationals, and to the general environment), (ii) hierarchical career plateauing and career satisfaction, and (iii) the role of career anchors, specially «geographical stability» and «internationalism». In fact, we seek to clarify the influence of each of these three dimensions on the intention (a) to return to the country of origin, (b) to go to another, (c) to stay in France. Following a review of the literature, research hypotheses were formulated. Data was collected, by questionnaires, from foreign-born healthcare professionals living in France. Statistical analyses were based on a sample of 317 responses. The main results show, on the one hand, that cross-cultural adjustment in France has no significant effect neither on the intention to return to the country of origin nor on the intention to go to another country. However, interaction adjustment has a positive and significant effect on the intention to stay in France. On the other hand, hierarchical career plateauing is positively and significantly related to the intention to return to the country of origin and to the intention to go to another country. It should be noted that career satisfaction is significantly related to the intention to stay in France. Distributive justice, for its part, has a positive and significant influence on general adjustment and career satisfaction but has a negative and significant effect on hierarchical career plateauing. Finally, our results underline the influence of career anchors on the intentions related to international mobility. When it comes to control variables, we see that personal characteristics, decision-making aspects, and contextual elements play a role in the international mobility dynamic of the foreign-born healthcare professionals living in France. Based on our results, we have formulated managerial and practical implications that could encourage the foreign-born healthcare professionals to return to their country of origin but also to stay in France. Limitations and vision statement for the future research are underlined in the conclusion.

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The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)