sm215 pre-departure training the primary criterion for expat assignment selection is technical...

SM215 PRE-DEPARTURE SM215 PRE-DEPARTURE TRAININGTRAINING

The primary criterion for expat The primary criterion for expat assignment selection is assignment selection is technical ability. technical ability.

Pre-departure training is the Pre-departure training is the next critical step in attempting next critical step in attempting to ensure the expat’s to ensure the expat’s effectiveness and success in effectiveness and success in the subsidiary assignment.the subsidiary assignment.


• The primary focus of pre-departure The primary focus of pre-departure training is developing cultural awareness.training is developing cultural awareness.

• Data has shown the link between failure Data has shown the link between failure rates and cultural adjustments rates and cultural adjustments challenges.challenges.

• Of course spousal unhappiness is the Of course spousal unhappiness is the major factor in U.S. Expats failures; major factor in U.S. Expats failures; whereas in Japan it is 5whereas in Japan it is 5thth on the list of on the list of reasons for Japanese failure rates. reasons for Japanese failure rates.


• A major objective of intercultural A major objective of intercultural training is to help the Expat cope training is to help the Expat cope with unexpected events in a new with unexpected events in a new cultureculture

• 2002 77% (n=181) U.S. firms offered 2002 77% (n=181) U.S. firms offered pre-departure trainingpre-departure training

• PDT now includes spouse & childrenPDT now includes spouse & children


• Expat/spouse/children (whole family) Expat/spouse/children (whole family) 33%33%

• Expat/spouse 29%Expat/spouse 29%

• Expat only 2%Expat only 2%

• None 36%None 36%


• A well-designed cultural awareness A well-designed cultural awareness program fosters an appreciation of program fosters an appreciation of the host country’s culture so that the host country’s culture so that Expats can behave accordingly, or at Expats can behave accordingly, or at least develop appropriate coping least develop appropriate coping patternspatterns


• If the expected interaction is low between If the expected interaction is low between the Expat and the members of the host the Expat and the members of the host country culture training should focus on country culture training should focus on task and job-related issues and less on task and job-related issues and less on cross-cultural skill developmentcross-cultural skill development

• If the expected interaction is high between If the expected interaction is high between the Expat and the members of the host the Expat and the members of the host country culture training should focus more country culture training should focus more on cross-cultural skill development and on cross-cultural skill development and less on task and job-related issues less on task and job-related issues


• Page 121 Tung 5 recommendationsPage 121 Tung 5 recommendations

• Page 121 Mendenhall & Oddou 3 Page 121 Mendenhall & Oddou 3 dimension modeldimension model– Training methodsTraining methods– Levels of training vigorLevels of training vigor– Duration of training relative to degree of Duration of training relative to degree of

interaction & culture noveltyinteraction & culture novelty


• 2 months-1 week long lectures, films, 2 months-1 week long lectures, films, booksbooks

• 2-12 months-1 to 4 weeks lectures, films, 2-12 months-1 to 4 weeks lectures, films, books plus cultural assimilators and role-books plus cultural assimilators and role-playsplays

• 1 year plus-2 months lectures, films, books 1 year plus-2 months lectures, films, books plus cultural assimilators and role-plays plus cultural assimilators and role-plays plus sensitivity training, field experiences, plus sensitivity training, field experiences, intercultural experiential workshopsintercultural experiential workshops


• Black & Mendal concluded the earlier Black & Mendal concluded the earlier model primarily cultural in naturemodel primarily cultural in nature

• Social Learning Theory: Integrate with Social Learning Theory: Integrate with Cultural Awareness-- Attention, Retention, Cultural Awareness-- Attention, Retention, & Reproduction& Reproduction

• Training only the first step! Expat Training only the first step! Expat willingness to apply learned behavior willingness to apply learned behavior (PDT) in the host country influenced by (PDT) in the host country influenced by firm expectationsfirm expectations


• Downside of Black & Mendal model—Downside of Black & Mendal model—time factor to learn behavioral time factor to learn behavioral aspects of “social theory”aspects of “social theory”

• Expats learn PDT and head off to Expats learn PDT and head off to assignmentassignment


• Preliminary Visits (PV) to host country Preliminary Visits (PV) to host country useful in developing cultural awareness useful in developing cultural awareness

• Expat and spouse should both take PV Expat and spouse should both take PV

• When PV used as part of PDT Expat has When PV used as part of PDT Expat has an easier time in the initial adjustment an easier time in the initial adjustment process to cultural awarenessprocess to cultural awareness


• Europeans 53% provide PVEuropeans 53% provide PV

• Average length 1 weekAverage length 1 week

• Expats previous visits preclude PVExpats previous visits preclude PV

• US value PV as # 1 priority cross-US value PV as # 1 priority cross-cultural training coming in at #2cultural training coming in at #2

• Germany, Japan, Korea rank PV as Germany, Japan, Korea rank PV as essential but not #1essential but not #1


• Language Training (LT)Language Training (LT)

• US, UK, Canada, & Australia rank LT US, UK, Canada, & Australia rank LT as unimportantas unimportant

• Europe, Asia, & South America rank LT Europe, Asia, & South America rank LT top prioritytop priority

• MNE requesting more foreign MNE requesting more foreign languages taught in US colleges and languages taught in US colleges and universitiesuniversities


• Designate ProgramDesignate Program– HCN sent to US firms by Pepsi-Cola, Fiat HCN sent to US firms by Pepsi-Cola, Fiat

from Italy for 18 month training for sales from Italy for 18 month training for sales force or production techniquesforce or production techniques

– Training done in the corporate languageTraining done in the corporate language—English in addition to the host country —English in addition to the host country langugelanguge


• Practical Assistance provided by Practical Assistance provided by Relocation SpecialistsRelocation Specialists– MNE provide relocation assistance for MNE provide relocation assistance for

Expat and familyExpat and family– Schools, jobs, recreation facilitesSchools, jobs, recreation facilites– What does military do for new arrivals?What does military do for new arrivals?


• Due to lack of trained replacement Due to lack of trained replacement Expats, Expats required to train their Expats, Expats required to train their replacements—HCNreplacements—HCN

• It’s important for these Expats to It’s important for these Expats to receive as part of their PDT the receive as part of their PDT the ability to transfer knowledge and ability to transfer knowledge and skills to their replacement HCNskills to their replacement HCN


• Different treatment of TCN, HCN, and Different treatment of TCN, HCN, and PCN (Expat) working in the same PCN (Expat) working in the same subsidiary subsidiary

• PDT not provided in many firms for PDT not provided in many firms for TCN and HCN transferring to another TCN and HCN transferring to another subsidiarysubsidiary

• US Expats, however, receive PDT as US Expats, however, receive PDT as we have seenwe have seen


• Technology added to PDT programsTechnology added to PDT programs– To reduce and offset cost of PDT 60% of To reduce and offset cost of PDT 60% of

MNE use CD and web-based programsMNE use CD and web-based programs– 41% used CD and web-based programs 41% used CD and web-based programs

as stand-alone alternativesas stand-alone alternatives– 16% used CD and web-based programs 16% used CD and web-based programs

onlyonly


• Success of PDTSuccess of PDT– 2002 survey2002 survey

•35% great value35% great value

•45% high value45% high value

•17% medium value17% medium value


• 79 US Expats reported PDT should 79 US Expats reported PDT should includeinclude– Cross-cultural awarenessCross-cultural awareness– Language TrainingLanguage Training– Preliminary VisitPreliminary Visit– Include Spouse and familyInclude Spouse and family

sm215 pre-departure training the primary criterion for expat assignment selection is technical...

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