Expatriate management in emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs): reflection and future research agenda

Modeling analysis of the correlation between duality innovation and multinational enterprise performance

In this study, we investigate how the influence of dual innovation affects the productivity of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Because of the rise of the knowledge-based economy, the capacity of multinational corporations (MNCs) to innovate technologically has become an increasingly important component in determining the extent to which they can compete in the global market. Models of Duality Innovation and Multinational Enterprise Performance with a Measurement of Corporate Risks from 2000 to 2015 were developed using corporate finance literature and data. The models show positive relationships between duality innovations and multinational enterprise performance. Furthermore, there has been an increasing level of corporate risks over the years when measured by both the duality innovation and multinational enterprise performance metrics. This article discusses the findings of this research project. It explains how they can help understand international enterprise performance while also explaining how to determine a potential risk profile for an individual or multiple companies. This knowledge is valuable because it helps us understand why some corporations succeed while others fail.

The impacts of inward knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity on the turnover of host country nationals in MNE subsidiaries: a multilevel modeling approach

Purpose

This study aims to find how the turnover of host country nationals (HCNs) would be affected by the knowledge transfer from a headquarter to a subsidiary. Knowledge transfer in a multinational corporation (MNC) has been discussed as a critical factor in the MNC’s success. Because HCNs are essential to synergizing with a new knowledge inflow during this knowledge transfer process, their turnover entails negative consequences such as knowledge loss.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper empirically tests the unbalance between knowledge received (KR) and absorptive capacity (AC) as the most critical organizational predictor by using the secondary longitudinal records and survey data of 4,915 employees. Multilevel survival analysis is used to calculate the individuals’ turnover hazard.

Findings

While finding that the primary effect of transferred knowledge is to reduce turnover, the study demonstrates the unbalance between a subsidiary’s AC and KR increases the likelihood of HCNs’ turnover within the organization. The authors also recognize the possibility of nonlinear trends of KR and AC on the turnover hazard.

Originality/value

The authors answer how knowledge transfer shapes a subsidiary’s work environment to prevent or increase turnover, which has been barely examined for HCNs who comprise the crucial demographic group in knowledge transfer. To enhance the originality further, this study empirically observes the actual turnover of HCNs with a conceptually comprehensive view incorporating both learning and political approaches.

Taking social responsibilities overseas? The learning paths and performance consequences of Chinese multinationals

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been seen as an effective strategy that emerging market multinational enterprises increasingly adopt in order to cope with the liability of origin, yet much less attention has been paid to the micro-foundations of such a strategy. It remains less explored as to how CSR is leveraged by individuals—that is, expatriates. Addressing this research gap, a total of 150 valid survey responses from 38 Chinese multinationals were tested using the structural equation modeling technique. The results show that expatriates’ cross-cultural competence and engagement in CSR facilitate the learning efficiency of subsidiaries. The findings also suggest that expatriates’ effort positively mediates the relationship between CSR and performance outcomes (at both individual level and organizational level). Embracing the micro-foundations perspective in CSR research, this study offers both theoretical and practical implications for future international management research.

Expatriate Management of Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises: A Multiple Case Study Approach

Expatriate management has evolved through the practices of developed economy multinational enterprises (DMNEs), with the aim of improving expatriate adaptability, cross-cultural adjustment, and performance. However, most of these studies focus on expatriates from developed countries and try to help DMNEs instead of emerging market MNEs (EMNEs). In a turbulent global economy, how EMNEs manage their expatriates when conducting business through their outward foreign direct investment (FDI) is understudied. This empirical study aims to address this research gap by utilising a qualitative approach and a multiple case study. It has conducted semi-structured interviews with expatriates, executives, and middle managers of Chinese MNEs in 2014. It contributes as one of the few to systematically examine expatriate related issues in the context of EMNEs with first-hand empirical evidence. The findings show that EMNEs are leapfrogging with their internationalisation and hence their expatriate policies are often ad hoc without systematic planning. Moreover, this study has contributed to practice, especially to EMNEs, regarding the way they need to improve their expatriate policies and practices.

Homesickness in developing world expatriates and coping strategies

This article examines the developing world expatriates’ experience of homesickness when they are deployed to western countries. The research considers the consequences of being homesick on the expatriates and their organisations; the paper then clarifies the strategies used by the expatriates to cope with the condition. The research employed qualitative research built on unstructured interviews with expatriates from the developing world who have been deployed in western countries by their employing multinational. The findings revealed that homesickness has consequences for both expatriates and organisations. These consequences include psycho-social disorder, deterioration of physical health which damagingly affect individual wellbeing, work outcomes and organisational commitment. The practical implications centre on the opportunity for policy and strategy formulation by international HRM within organisations to improve the mental health of developing world expatriates, thus seeding the ingredients for better performance and job satisfaction. Our study makes significant additions to the expatriate literature in exposing the homesickness experiences of expatriates from the developing world in advanced economies. We identify two main coping strategies used by expatriates. The research explicates how developing world expatriates use these strategies in practices.

Global South expatriates, homesickness and adjustment approaches

Purpose

The research examines homesickness in organisationally assigned expatriates from developing countries or Global South serving in Western contexts. It investigates the extent to which homesickness has personal and organisational consequences and explores the coping mechanisms used by expatriates.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative research built on unstructured interviews with organisationally assigned expatriates from the Global South.

Findings

The research found that homesickness has consequences for both expatriates and organisations. These consequences include psycho-social disorder, deterioration of physical health which damagingly affects individual well-being, work outcomes and organisational commitment.

Practical implications

The practical implications centre on the opportunity for policy and strategy formulation by international human resource management (HRM) within organisations to improve the mental health of Global South expatriates, thus seeding the ingredients for better performance and job satisfaction.

Originality

This research makes significant additions to the expatriate literature in exposing the homesickness experiences of expatriates from the Global South in advanced economies. Two main coping frameworks used by expatriates are proposed. These copying frameworks centre on positive practices and negative practices which, in turn, encapsulate five adjustment approaches. The research explains how Global South expatriates use these models in practice.

Developing a collaborative culture for radical and incremental innovation: the mediating roles of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of collaborative culture on employee’s knowledge sharing and how it associated with radical and incremental innovation in Chinese firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the quantitative approach and structure equation model to test hypotheses with data collected by questionnaire from 371 participants in 68 Chinese firms.

Findings

The research findings indicated that collaborative culture positively fosters the KS behaviors of employees for radical and incremental innovation. The findings confirm the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing and reveal that collaborative culture has a significant impact on incremental innovation, whereas knowledge sharing behaviors have greater impacts on radical and incremental innovation.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should investigate the impact of collaborative culture on innovation under moderating effects of ownership form or mediating roles of behavioral variables to have better understanding on the relationship among them.

Practical implications

This study offers leaders a deeper understanding of the necessary factors and new pathways to stimulate employees’ tacit and explicit knowledge sharing for innovation.

Originality/value

The paper has significant contributed to theoretical and practical initiatives on the theory of innovation which highlighted the crucial role of collaborative culture in facilitating a positive climate for knowledge sharing and innovation.