Trenden visar på att expatriates världen över fortsätter att ökas och värderas mer. Ett allmänt problem i hanteringen av expatriates är att de slutar i förtid och att de kan känna sig hindrade av att prestera till sina fulla kapaciteter. Årets resultat i en omfattande undersökning av expatriates världen över, där man mäter hur lyckliga de är, visade på att Sverige är årets förlorare. Syftet med den här studien är att ta reda på vilka sätt det finns för HR-ansvariga att använda, för att sänka risken för expatriate-failures i Sverige. Utifrån syftet formulerades två frågeställningar som undersökningen baserades på, på vilka sätt kan man minska risken för att expatriate-failures ska ske i Sverige och är de etablerade tillvägagångssätten giltiga i Sverige. Metoden bestod av en enkätundersökning som undersökte vad anledningarna för övervägan att sluta i förtid var för expatsen i Sverige samt hur deras besittning av vissa attribut korrelerade till att ha en risk för expatriate-failure. Undersökningen visade på att kulturshockar var huvudanledningen för att expatriate-failures sker i Sverige och att besittning av eftertraktade attribut skulle minska risken för expatriate-failures. Resultatet visade då på att de etablerade tillvägagångssätten är giltiga i Sverige för att minska risken för expatriate-failure. Andra effektiva tillvägagångssätt gavs också som förslag för att motverka frekventa anledningarna som emprin visade på.

The purpose of this thesis was to discover whether or not the Japanese parents who are temporarily staying in the U.S. with their children are anticipating the possibility of psychological and communicative problems their children may face as returnees, and to what extent the Japanese parents discuss these potential problems with their husbands and/or with their children. The question also asked whether or not the Japanese parents are doing anything to prepare themselves and/or their children to cope with the potential problems which their children may face as returnees.

The purpose of this study is to apply a developmental model of intercultural sensitivity to a group of people in an intercultural setting and discover whether or not the model is descriptive. The data collected are also used to determine whether or not the coping mechanisms employed by the sojourners are developmental in terms of this model of intercultural sensitivity.

While much research and attention have focused on sojourn adjustment to a new culture, very little research has addressed readjustment to the home culture. This research studies the problems of repatriation work adjustment experienced by U.S. corporate employees. This study also.suggests that cultural readjustment is situational and a multifaceted process which is influenced by many different variables. Interviews with 25 corporate repatriated employees were conducted using a 22-question survey instrument. Repatriates were asked to rate their readjustment experiences on a seven-item Likert scale. Respondents also had the opportunity to expand on their answers with open-ended questions. Fourteen variables were examined for their relationship to cultural readjustment and to each other. Of these 14 variables, the ability for repatriates to use job skills which were learned overseas and number of overseas assignments were found to positively relate to readjustment. As predicted, the amount of autonomy expatriates experienced overseas was found to relate negatively to repatriation work readjustment. Based on these findings, recommendations to facilitate readjustment to the corporate home environment are proposed.

The relationship of language and culture is explored in this thesis for the purpose of better understanding why all sojourners, regardless of preparation, experience some degree of culture shock. The author begins with a review of literature on culture shock establishing that the native language of sojourners is not considered to be of any consequence to the sojourning experience. The fields of intercultural communication, social psychology and psychology are then explored to establish the link between language and culture and to introduce the notion of linguistic identity. Evidence found in each of these fields leads the author to conclude that linguistic identity must become a focal point of language instruction and that both language and linguistic identity must be addressed more effectively in pre-departure orientations. Also included is a research proposal which is designed to test pre-departure orientation strategies which introduce students to linguistic identity and to track their transition experiences over the course of a year-long study abroad sojourn.

This thesis is concerned with migrants’ experience of their acceptance and well-being in Australian society, particularly the unconscious processes reflected in dreams and communication patterns; the provision of services intended to be of help in settlement; and the relationship between the unconscious processes and the provision of services. Collaborating with clients, colleagues who share similar interests and concerns, people with special skills and cultural knowledge, and some Management Committee members of the Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan, Inc. the author has investigated the multicultural unconscious, government policies and guidelines related to services to recent arrivals and people of non-English-speaking backgrounds, measures to address gaps in services for appropriate improvement. The research approach is naturalistic with a strong emphasis on the author’s personal reflections and case studies of people and projects. / Master of Science (Hons) Social Ecology

Background Expatriate failure can be a devastating consequence for both an enterprise and the expatriate himself. An expatriate is a person who resides outside his native country for working purposes. Moving to a foreign country implies many challenges and problems. One of the challenges is the new culture. Culture shock and problems with the acculturation process can jeopardize the international assignment: adaptation problem for expatriates is one of the reasons for expatriate failure. Nevertheless, culture shocks can be provided against by preparing the expatriate for the new culture. Knowledge about the other culture will increase the expatriate’s cultural competence, and hence facilitate the adaptation process, which will provide against expatriate failure. Purpose The thrust of this Bachelor Thesis was to analyze which important cultural differences a Swedish expatriate can encounter in Spain on an international assignment. The aim was to establish a check-list for future Swedish expatriates who are going to Spain, in order increase their cultural competence. We approached the cultural differences from a Swedish expatriate’s point of view. Methodology A qualitative study was conducted. The empirical data was collected through five semi-structured interviews with Swedish expatriates that are, or have been, working in Spain. All the interviewees work at companies who operate within the high-tech business trade. A frame of reference was elaborated in order to interpret and analyze the results obtained from the empirical data. Conclusions We found relevant cultural differences for Swedish expatriates going to Spain within four cultural aspects. Organization: organizations in Spain are more hierarchical and the manager more authoritarian compared to Sweden. The purpose of meetings is to inform or make decisions, rather than discuss and decide by consensus. Long working days are normal, and efficiency is not highly prioritized. Small talk before meetings is used more extensively than in Sweden. Time: Spaniards perceive time as fluid, which leads to less rigid agendas and schedules. Punctuality is a minor issue since time is approximate. Communication: The culture is expressive. Spaniards are emotional in their way of communicating, which is classified as an expressive culture. Moreover, frequent interruptions are seen as commitment to, and engagement in, the conversation. Indirect language is preferred over the direct, the context is more important than the words used. Social life: Spaniards prefer to meet up outside. The Spaniard’s private zone is bigger and includes more persons, compared to the Swede’s. Furthermore, respect is only shown people the Spaniard knows and cares about.

Thesis (PhD) - Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, Swinburne University of Technology, 2009. / Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, Swinburne University of Technology - 2009. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. ??-??)

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-135).

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [66]-67).