Measuring the return on investment in international assignments: An action research approach

International Journal of Human Resource Management

Volumn 23, Issue 16, 2012, Pages 3434-3454

  Doherty, Noeleen Teresa ^a   Dickmann, Michael ^a  

^a CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

action research; expatriation; international assignments; measurement; return on investment

Indexed keywords

EID: 84863886093     PISSN: 09585192     EISSN: 14664399     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2011.637062     Document Type: Article

References (65)

1. Ando, N. 2011. Isomorphism and Foreign Subsidiary Staffing Policies. Cross-Cultural Management: An International Journal, 18(2): 131-143.
2. Beardwell, J. and Claydon, T. 2007. Human Resource Management, 5th ed., London: FT Prentice Hall.
3. Black, J.S., Gregersen, H.B., Mendenhall, M.E. and Stroh, L. 1999. Globalizing People Through International Assignments, London: Addison Wesley.
4. Bonache, J. and Brewster, C. 2001. Knowledge Transfer and the Management of Expatriation. Thunderbird International Business Review, 43(1): 145-146.
5. Bonache, J. and Zárraga-Oberty, C. 2008. Determinants of the Success of International Assignees as Knowledge Transferors: A Theoretical Framework. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 19(1): 1-18.
6. Bonache, J., Brewster, C. and Suutari, V. 2001. Expatriation: A Developing Research Agenda. Thunderbird International Business Review, 43(1): 3-20.
7. Brookfield GMAC. 2010. Global Relocation Trends: 2010 Survey Report, London: GMAC.
8. Cappellen, T. and Janssens, M. 2005. Career Paths of Global Managers: Towards Future Research. Journal of World Business, 40(4): 348-360.
9. Carr, W. and Kemmis, S. 1986. Becoming Critical: Education, Knowledge and Action Research, Basingstoke: Falmer Press.
10. Cedant Mobility (2002), 2002 Worldwide Benchmark Study: New Approaches to Global Mobility, www.cedantmobility.com (http://www.cedantmobility.com)
11. Cole, N. and McNulty, Y. 2011. Why Do Female Expatriates "Fit-in" Better Than Males?. Cross-Cultural Management: An International Journal, 18(2): 144-164.
12. Collings, D.G., Doherty, N., Luethy, M. and Osborne, D. 2011. Understanding and Supporting the Career Implications of International Assignments. Journal of Vocational Behavior, doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.010
13. Collings, D.G., Scullion, H. and Morley, M.J. 2007. Changing Patterns of Global Staffing in the Multinational Enterprise: Challenges to the Conventional Expatriate Assignment and Emerging Alternatives. Journal of World Business, 42: 198-213.
14. Dickmann, M. and Baruch, Y. 2011. Global Careers, London: Routledge.
15. Dickmann, M. and Debner, C. 2011. "International Mobility at Work: Companies' Structural, Remuneration and Risk Considerations". In Global Careers, Edited by: Dickmann, M. and Baruch, Y. 268-292. London: Routledge.
16. Dickmann, M. and Doherty, N. 2010. Exploring Organisational and Individual Career Goals, Interactions and Outcomes of International Assignments. Thunderbird International Review, 52(4): 313-324.
17. Dickmann, M., Doherty, N., and Johnson, A. (2006), 'Measuring the Value of International Assignments,' Report for PwC UK Geodesy, Cranfield School of Management.
18. Dickmann, M., Doherty, N., and Mills, T. (2005), 'Understanding Mobility - Influence Factors in the Decision to Accept an International Assignment, Repatriation Issues and Long-term Career Considerations,' Report for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cranfield University School of Management
19. Dickmann, M., Doherty, N., Mills, T. and Brewster, C. 2008. Why Do They Go? Individual and Corporate Perspectives on the Factors Influencing the Decision to Accept an International Assignment. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 9(4): 731-751.
20. Doherty, N., and Dickmann, M. (2007), 'Managing the Career Wobble of Repatriates,' Developing HR Strategy, July 13
21. Doherty, N. and Dickmann, M. 2009. Exploring the Symbolic Capital of International Assignments. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2): 301-320.
22. Doherty, N., Brewster, C., Suutari, V. and Dickmann, M. 2008. "Repatriation: The End or the Middle?". In Human Resource Management: A European Perspective, Edited by: Dickmann, M., Brewster, C. and Sparrow, P. 174-191. London: Routledge.
23. Dowling, P., Festing, M. and Engle, A. 2008. International Human Resource Management: Managing People in a Multinational Context, 5th ed., London: Thomson Learning.
24. ECA. 2010. Managing Mobility Survey, London: Employment Conditions Abroad.
25. Edström, A. and Galbraith, J.R. 1977. Transfer of Managers as a Coordination and Control Strategy in Multinational Organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 22(2): 248-263.
26. GMAC (2006), www.gmacglobalrelocation.com (http://www.gmacglobalrelocation.com)
27. GMAC. 2008. Global Relocation Trends Survey, Woodridge, IL: GMAC Global Relocation Services.
28. Hailey, J. and Harry, W. 2008. "Localization: A Strategic Response to Globalization". In International Human Resource Management: A European Perspective, Edited by: Dickmann, M., Brewster, C. and Sparrow, P. 19-38. London: Routledge.
29. Harris, H., Brewster, C. and Sparrow, P. 2003. International Human Resource Management, London: CIPD.
30. Harrison, M.A. and Shaffer, M.A. 2005. Mapping the Criterion Space for Expatriate Success: Task and Relationship Based Performance, Effort and Adaptation. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(8): 1454-1474.
31. Harzing, A.W. 1995. The Persistent Myth of High Expatriate Failure Rates. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 6(2): 457-474.
32. Haslberger, A. 2005. Facets and Dimensions of Cross-cultural Adaptation - Refining the Tools. Personnel Review, 34(2): 85-110.
33. Haslberger, A. 2008. "Expatriate Adjustment: A More Nuanced View". In International Human Resource Management: A European Perspective, Edited by: Dickmann, M., Brewster, C. and Sparrow, P. 130-149. London: Routledge.
34. Hippler, T. 2009. Why Do They Go? Empirical Evidence of Employees' Motives for Seeking or Accepting Relocation. International Journal of International Human Resource Management, 20(6): 1381-1401.
35. Hocking, J., Brown, M. and Harzing, A.-W. 2004. A Knowledge Transfer Perspective of Strategic Assignment Purposes and Their Path-dependent Outcomes. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 15(3): 565-586.
36. Hodgkinson, G.P. and Rousseau, D.M. 2009. Bridging the Rigour-Relevance Gap in Management Research: It's Already Happening!. Journal of Management Studies, 46(3): 534-546.
37. Inkson, K. and Arthur, M. 2001. How to be a Successful Career Capitalist. Organizational Dynamics, 30(1): 48-60.
38. Inkson, K., and Clark, D. (2010), 'Careers and HRM: A Resource Based View,' Paper Presented at ANZAM, Adelaide, 8-10 December
39. Kittler, M., Rygl, D., Mackinnon, A. and Wiedemann, K. 2011. Work Role and Work Adjustment in Emerging Markets. Cross-Cultural Management: An International Journal, 18(2): 165-184.
40. Kraimer, M.L., Shaffer, M.A. and Bolino, M.C. 2009. The Influence of Expatriate and Repatriate Experiences on Career Advancement and Repatriate Retention. Human Resource Management, 48(1): 27-47.
41. Lazarova, M.B. and Cerdin, J.L. 2007. Revisiting Repatriation Concerns: Organizational Support Versus Career and Contextual Influences. Journal of International Business Studies, 38: 404-429.
42. Lewis, R.E. and Heckman, R.J. 2006. Talent Management: A Critical Review. Human Resource Management Review, 16: 139-154.
43. Marchington, M. and Wilkinson, A. 2007. Human Resource Management at Work, 3rd ed., London: CIPD.
44. McCaughey, D. and Bruning, N.S. 2005. Enhancing Opportunities for Expatriate Job Satisfaction: HR Strategies for Foreign Assignment Success. Human Resource Planning, 28(4): 21-29.
45. McNulty, Y. and Tharenou, P. 2004. Expatriate Return on Investment: A Definition and Antecedents. International Studies of Management and Organisation, 34(3): 68-95.
46. McNulty, Y., De Cieri, H. and Hutchings, K. 2009. Do Global Firms Measure Expatriate Return on Investment? An Empirical Examination of Measures, Barriers and Variables Influencing Global Staffing Practices. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(6): 1309-1326.
47. Ng, T.W.H., Eby, L., Sorensen, K.L. and Feldman, D.C. 2005. Predictors of Objective and Subjective Career Success: A Meta Analysis. Personnel Psychology, 58(2): 367-408.
48. ORC Worldwide. 2008. Worldwide Survey of International Assignment Policies and Practices, New York: Organizational Resource Councilors Worldwide.
49. Pfeffer, J. and Sutton, R. 2006. Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths and Total Nonsense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
50. Rousseau, D. and Fried, Y. 2001. Location, Location, Location: Contextualizing Organisational Research. Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 22(1): 1-13.
51. Sexton, M. and Lu, S.-L. 2009. The Challenges of Creating Actionable Knowledge: An Action Research Perspective. Construction Management and Economics, 27: 683-694.
52. Sparrow, P. 2006. International Recruitment, Selection and Assessment, London: CIPD.
53. Sparrow, P., Brewster, C. and Harris, H. 2004. Globalizing Human Resource Management, London: Routledge.
54. Stahl, G.K., Miller, E. and Tung, R. 2002. Towards the Boundaryless Career: A Closer Look at the Expatriate Career Concept and the Perceived Implications of an International Assignment. Journal of World Business, 37: 216-227.
55. Stahl, G.K., Chua, C.H., Caligiuri, P., Cerdin, J.L. and Taniguchi, M. 2009. Predictors of Turnover Intentions in Learning-Driven and Demand-Driven International Assignments: The Role of Repatriate Concerns, Satisfaction with Company Support, and Perceived Careers Advancement Opportunities. Human Resource Management, 48(1): 89-109.
56. Stiles, P., and Kulvisaechana, S. (2003), 'Human Capital and Performance: A Literature Review,' DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) Accounting for people report. www.accountingforpeople.gov.uk (http://www.accountingforpeople.gov.uk)
57. Strack, R., Caye, J.-M., Thurner, R., and Haen, P. (2009), 'Creating People Advantage in Times of Crisis: How to Address HR Challenges in the Recession,' Report for People Management, Düsseldorf, BCG/EAPM, The Boston Consulting Group and the European Association
58. Suutari, V. and Brewster, C. 2003. Repatriation: Empirical Evidence of a Longitudinal Study from Careers and Expectations among Finnish Expatriates. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(7): 1132-1151.
59. Thomas, D.C. and Lazarova, M.B. 2006. "Expatriate Adjustment and Performance: A Critical Review". In Handbook of Research on International Human Resource Management, Edited by: Stahl, G.K. and Björkman, I. 247-264. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
60. Tornikoski, C. 2011. Fostering Expatriate Affective Commitment: A Total Reward Perspective. Cross-Cultural Management: An International Journal, 18(2): 214-235.
61. Ulrich, D. 1997a. Human Resource Champions: The Next Agenda for Adding Value and Delivering Results, Boston, MA: Harvard University Press.
62. Ulrich, D. 1997b. Measuring Human Resources: An Overview of Practice and Prescription for Results. Human Resource Management, 36(3): 303-320.
63. Welch, D.E. 2003. Globalization of Staff Movements: Beyond Cultural Adjustment. Management International Review, 43(2): 149-169.
64. Welch, D., Steen, A. and Tahvanainen, M. 2009. All Pain, Little Gain? Reframing the Value of International Assignments. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(6): 1327-1343.
65. Yan, A., Zhu, G. and Hall, D.T. 2002. International Assignments for Career Building: A Model of Agency Relationships and Psychological Contracts. Academy of Management Review, 27(3): 373-391.