International Assignments
International Careers
What is a career?
“Trajectory through life which each person undergoes the activities he or she engages in to satisfy physical needs and wants and the more important social needs and wants.” (Goldschmidt, 1990)
“The individual’s experiences in learning and work throughout life.” (Collin & Watts, 1996)
In essence, career means the public aspect of life and it is in this sense that every person has career.
What is an international career?
Similar to that of a career but one that is abroad and initiated by the organisation. 6 main differences to that of an overseas experience.
Overseas experience
International assignment
1. Initiated by the person
1. Initiated by organisation
2. Individual development
2. Company projects
3. Self-financing
3. Financed by the organisation
4. Heterogeneous skill set required
4. Company determined skill set
5. Own choice: timing, location etc
5. Organisationally determined
6. Boundaryless career
6. Organisational career
A firm sends employees on IAs to implement global strategies and to enhance the organisations capabilities for the future.
4 Types (Lineham & Mayrhofer);
1. Watchdog, trouble shooting – co-ordination and control, used in transitions or crises. E.g. Accenture sending personnel to India
2. Senior management with high potential – some control but also the assignment seen as part of individuals acquiring different aspects of leadership competencies. E.g. senior manager to MD.
3. Junior management for development – personal development and int. experience
4. Isolation punishment – Dead end or signal of punishment. E.g. Rolls Royce sent engineers to a plant in Scotland.
Cross-border assignments are showing no signs of a slowdown. In fact, 59% of CEOs surveyed plan to send more staff on international assignments. (PWC study)
HRM Strategies Internationally
4 Approaches (Heenan & Perlmutter, 1979):
1. Ethnocentric –key positions filled by home country
What is a career?
“Trajectory through life which each person undergoes the activities he or she engages in to satisfy physical needs and wants and the more important social needs and wants.” (Goldschmidt, 1990)
“The individual’s experiences in learning and work throughout life.” (Collin & Watts, 1996)
In essence, career means the public aspect of life and it is in this sense that every person has career.
What is an international career?
Similar to that of a career but one that is abroad and initiated by the organisation. 6 main differences to that of an overseas experience.
Overseas experience
International assignment
1. Initiated by the person
1. Initiated by organisation
2. Individual development
2. Company projects
3. Self-financing
3. Financed by the organisation
4. Heterogeneous skill set required
4. Company determined skill set
5. Own choice: timing, location etc
5. Organisationally determined
6. Boundaryless career
6. Organisational career
A firm sends employees on IAs to implement global strategies and to enhance the organisations capabilities for the future.
4 Types (Lineham & Mayrhofer);
1. Watchdog, trouble shooting – co-ordination and control, used in transitions or crises. E.g. Accenture sending personnel to India
2. Senior management with high potential – some control but also the assignment seen as part of individuals acquiring different aspects of leadership competencies. E.g. senior manager to MD.
3. Junior management for development – personal development and int. experience
4. Isolation punishment – Dead end or signal of punishment. E.g. Rolls Royce sent engineers to a plant in Scotland.
Cross-border assignments are showing no signs of a slowdown. In fact, 59% of CEOs surveyed plan to send more staff on international assignments. (PWC study)
HRM Strategies Internationally
4 Approaches (Heenan & Perlmutter, 1979):
1. Ethnocentric –key positions filled by home country