Transcript Return Cultural Assimilation Bridging the Cultural Gap John R. Baldwin, Ph.D. Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-4480 [email protected] (309) 438-7969 Shannon O’Donnell, MA Chestnut Global Partners, NFP Bloomington, IL 61701 [email protected] (309)

Return Cultural
Assimilation
Bridging the Cultural Gap
John R. Baldwin, Ph.D.
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4480
[email protected]
(309) 438-7969
Shannon O’Donnell, MA
Chestnut Global Partners, NFP
Bloomington, IL 61701
[email protected]
(309) 820-3557
Can You Go Home?
“There is no real going back. Though I may come to
the Shire, it will not seem the same, for I shall not
be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and
tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?”
Frodo Baggins
--Return of the King
An Increasingly Global Community
Consider
Colgate-Palmolive operates in 190 countries. 70% of its
benefits are from overseas markets
AT&T has over 55,000 employees working in 105
countries
ALCOA has 70% of its workforce outside the U.S.
Caterpillar and its dealers operate in over 100 countries.
About 50% of their workforce is outside the U.S., up from
only 27% ten years ago.
The U.S. is the #1 expatriate destination in the world
40,000 multinational companies employee 75 million
people worldwide
Importance of Repatriation
 75% of Multi-national companies (MNCs)
have an expat recall rate greater than
10%.
Harzig, 1995.
 22% of U.S. expatriate employees
turnover within the first year of
repatriation.
GMAC GRS – NFTC –
SHRM Global, 2003.
Black and Gregersen, 1991.
 50% turn over within 3 years.
The problem:
Return Cultural Adjustment (RCA)
“The process of
reintegration into the
primary home
contexts after an
intercultural sojourn”
(Martin & Harrell,
2004, p. 310)
Research on RCA--John
• Martin et al., 1995: Families > friends
• Yoshida et al. 2002: Communication with parents
• Harvey, 1988: Existence and design of current repat
programs
• Gaw, 1999: personal adjustment/shyness  RCA;
increased RCA decreased use of support services
• Culpan & Wright, 2002: Special issues for women
• Gregersen & Stroh, 1997: Time & roles
• Stringham, 1993: Family of origin, power relations
• Gomez-Mejia & Balkan: 86% of variance: career
goals/development
• Cox, 1994: patterns of adjustment, role of tech
Research on RCA--John
• Suutari & Brewster, 2003: they leave, but they are
satisfied with effects of experience on careers
• Gama & Pederson, 1977: role identity, frustration with
resources
• Uehara, 1986: Value change #1; (#2: Attitudes towards
America)
• Kanno, 2000: concerns of kikokushijo: new identities
• Wilson, 1985: Returned students become mediating
persons
• Sussman, 2001: preparation, cultural ID change had most
severe repat stress.
• Sussman, 2002: Repatriation shift is linked to changes in
cultural identity (e.g., X American)
Theory on RCA: Psychological Model
• Adjustment as psychological well-being
• U-curve/W-curve
• Domains of adjustment:
– Colleen Ward:
• Psychological
• Sociocultural
– Richard Ady:
– Domains on return?
W-curve
Entry into New Culture
Preliminary
State
Spectator
State
Adaptation
State
Shock
State
Participant
State
Re-entry into Own Culture
Preliminary
State
Spectator
State
Adaptation
State
Shock
State
Participant
State
High
Psychological
wellbeing
Interpersonal
Adjustment
Degree of
Adjustment
Ability to get around
Organizational
Performance
Low
Time
Theory on RCA: Expectations
• Violations as bad
• Expectancy violations model
– Overmet expectations +
– Undermet expectations – “Narcissism of small differences”: Martin et al. 1995
Theory on RCA: Cultural identity
• The problem: Identity
Change (Smith, 1998)
• Identity Management
Theory (Cupach &
Imahori)
• Berry: 2 dimensions
• The solution: Effective
communication
• Sussman’s theory of
identity change (2000,
2001)
Berry’s model of XC Adjustment
-
Re-adaptation of Host-Cultural Identity
Integration
Assimilation
Separation
Marginalization
+
+
Maintenance of Cross-Cultural Identity
-
• Culture Learning Theory
(Smith, 1998):
• People have to relearn
their cultures
• Aspects of identity: scope,
salience, avowal,
ascription, and the
everyday negotiation of ID
• Extensions by Sussman
(2000)
Theory on RCA: Psychological Model
• Young Yun Kim’s Interdisciplinary Approach
– Aspects of the Person
• Gender, age, religion, ethnicity, SES
• Openness, strength, positivity
• Preparedness for change
– Aspects of the Culture and Context
• Support system
• Conformity pressure
• Host (home) culture receptivity!
– The role of Communication:
• Own group & New Group
• Interpersonal & Mediated
Adaptation
Growth over
Time
Stress
Building Bridges: Success Strategies
Organization
Before
During
After
School
Individual/
Family
Building Bridges: Success Strategies
Organization
Before
Suggestion 1
During
Suggestion 1
After
Suggestion 1
Building Bridges: Success Strategies
School
Before
Suggestion 1
During
Suggestion 1
After
Suggestion 1
Building Bridges: Success Strategies
Individual/
Family
Before
Suggestion 1
During
Suggestion 1
After
Suggestion 1
Suggestions & Models
Methods of Reducing Expatriate Turnover
When is Repatriation Addressed
• 44% Pre-Departure
• 21% 6 months or more
before repatriating
• 23% Under 6 months
before repatriating
Not soon enough
Success Strategies - Business
 Make sure the right people are
going abroad.
 Clearly define the expat’s
career goals before the
assignment begins and make
sure the goals reflect your
company’s overall objectives.
 Discuss the challenges of
repatriation before the
employee leaves.
 Encourage expats to make
regular visits to the home
office through a home-leave
policy.
 Understand and educate
management on the
challenges of repatriation.
 Find positions and activities
that use repats’ new skills.
 Provide support to the entire
family.
 Encourage repats to approach
repatriation similarly to
relocating overseas.
 Once repats have returned
home, offer a counseling
program.
 Create a mentor program for
the entire process.
Workforce, July 2002, pp. 40-44
ROI Strategies
Effectiveness
Investigations
Benchmarking
Accountability
Reports
Satisfaction &
Feedback Surveys
Cost-Benefit
Studies
Case Studies
Outcome
Evaluations
Research
Pre and Post
Measurement