Swedish expatriates’ perceptions of support measures during international assignments - Which support measures are important to prevent expatriate failure and why

Abstract

Expatriates are a crucial resource for organizations wishing to stay globally competitive. Expatriate failure is a costly problem for organizations. Six expatriates were interviewed in order to gain insights regarding what support measures are considered effective and which are not. Data was collected through interviews and coded into themes. The results showed that the expatriates’ had different views on support and valued different measures. Rather than finalizing a list with effective support measures, the study’s conclusion is that a standardized support programme is not fully effective. Organizations need to discuss the needs of every expatriate jointly with the expatriate to customize the support in order to prevent premature return. The same structure should be used for the repatriation process. Considering the expatriates often see international assignments as a step in their professional careers, it is important for the organization and the expatriate to discuss the benefit of the assignment to avoid disappointment that could result in repatriation turnover.