“Living in the bubble”. The role of communication for Swedish expatriates adjustment in China

Abstract

Increasing number of Swedish companies expands their businesses in the Mainland of China, accompanying with increasing need of expatriating Swedish experienced employees to Chinese subsidiaries. The study aims to collect experiences of Swedish expatriate managers and technical experts’ experiences to identify the propositions explaining Swedish expatriate adjustment to the host Chinese culture. For this purpose, ten in-depth interviews with Swedish expatriates and two with spouses of Swedish expats are conducted. Analysis of the qualitative data is done through abduction approach which provides the opportunity to make comparisons between thirteen literature-reviewed propositions and fifteen empirical-data-based propositions. Features of adjustment pattern, their existing barriers in acculturation, and the vital role of communication are presented, then the suggestion of taking initiative in intercultural communication is introduced as a possible strategy for Swedish expats to adjust in Chinese society.