A race against time: training and support for short-term international assignments
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Accepted Version
Date
2018-12-10
Authors
Conroy Kieran, M.
McDonnell, Anthony
Holzleitner, Katrin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Emerald Publishing Limited
Published Version
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the specific forms of training and support that individuals on short-term international assignments (SIAs) receive. It further explores issues such as short notice prior to departure and how this impacts the type of training and support compared to what the extant literature on expatriates intimates. Scholars and practitioners both agree that the increasing deployment of individuals on SIAs presents significant challenges that have not yet been met with the development of appropriate organisational policies and practices. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on in-depth exploratory qualitative interviews with a sample of German assignees, the paper is abductive in nature with semi-structured interviews analysed through thematic based analysis. The data analysis identifies the need for more tailored training and support through formal and informal mechanisms, developed in pre-departure and post-arrival contexts. Findings: The paper makes key contributions through providing much needed empirical evidence on the training and support short-term assignees receive and in so doing we identify specific forms of training and supports deemed relevant from the perspective of individuals on SIAs. Given the inherent time constraints for SIAs, the significance of informal support, in both pre-departure and post-arrival contexts is especially emphasised. Originality/value: The paper is one of the first empirical pieces of work to explicitly consider the specific forms of training and support that SIAs consider important. The authors answer calls for greater consideration into the significance of developing a more tailored and strategic approach to managing SIAs as a specific form of an international assignee.
Description
Keywords
Training , Support , Post-arrival , Pre-departure , Short-term international assignee
Citation
Conroy, K. M., McDonnell, A. and Holzleitner, K. (2018) 'A race against time: training and support for short-term international assignments', Journal of Global Mobility, 6(3/4), pp. 299-315. doi: 10.1108/JGM-05-2018-0022