Margaret A. Shaffer

Input-based and time-based models of international adjustment: Meta-analytic evidence and theoretical extensions

Integrating work on international assignments and domestic stress, we conducted meta-analyses of over 50 determinants and consequences of expatriate adjustment using data from 8,474 expatriates in ...

You can take it with you: individual differences and expatriate effectiveness.

The authors report the collaborative efforts of 2 research teams that independently investigated the effects of stable personality traits (the Big Five) and specific behavioral competencies (cultural flexibility, task and people orientations, and ethnocentrism) on key dimensions of expatriate effectiveness: psychological adjustment, assignment withdrawal cognitions, and job performance. Analyses of multiple-source and longitudinal data from 3 studies, including a diverse sample of expatriates in Hong Kong and separate samples of Korean and Japanese expatriates posted around the world, indicate several direct effects of individual differences. Further data show reliable distinctions between the traits and competencies as well as incremental prediction by either set of predictors in the presence of the others.

Struggling for balance amid turbulence on international assignments: work–family conflict, support and commitment

Using human capital theory, we develop hypotheses about the impact of perceived organizational support and two forms of work–family conflict on the psychological withdrawal of expatriates. We also consider the exacerbating effects of commitment to either domain. To test these hypotheses, we collected multisource data from 324 expatriates in 46 countries. Results indicate that perceived organizational support and the interplay between work and family domains have direct and unique influences on expatriates’ intentions to quit.

In search of sustained competitive advantage: the impact of organizational culture, competitive strategy and human resource management practices on firm performance

We develop and test a dynamic model of co-specialized resources for competitive advantage. Using matched data from senior executives and human resource managers, we test the direct and interactive effects of high-performance human resource (HPHR) practices and organizational culture on firm performance. Although the HPHR practices were not an important influence on performance, our findings indicate that organizational culture can be a valuable resource for companies.

The tug of work and family: Direct and indirect domain‐specific determinants of work‐family conflict

Examines the influence of family‐ and work‐specific determinants of multiple forms of family interference with work (FIW) and work interference with family (WIF) conflict. Using a Hong Kong university sample (including both academic and non‐academic staff), finds that parental demands and hours spent on household work were important determinants of FIW conflict and that role conflict, role overload, and hours spent on paid work influenced WIF conflict. Differential gender effects for FIW and WIF conflict support the traditional gender roles embedded in Confucian ethics. Moderating effects of spouse support, supervisor support and domestic support were also found, although the latter was opposite to the direction hypothesized. Implications for future researchers and managers are discussed.

EQUITY AND RELATIONSHIP QUALITY INFLUENCES ON ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIORS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST IN THE SUPERVISOR AND EMPOWERMENT

Purpose – To develop and test an expanded social exchange model of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) that includes characteristics of the social context (i.e. perceived fairness and leader‐member exchange (LMX)) as well as the capacity (i.e. trust in the supervisor and psychological empowerment) to engage in citizenship behaviors.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a matched sample of 183 Hong Kong investment‐banking personnel and their supervisors. Multiple regression was used to test direct and mediating effects.Findings – Analyses provide strong support for the direct effects of trust in the supervisor and psychological empowerment on all dimensions of OCBs. Trust in the supervisor played an important mediating role in all relationships. Only one dimension of empowerment (i.e. impact) acted as a mediator.Originality/value – This study extends the social exchange conceptualization of OCB to include both equity and interpersonal relationship influences. The influence of empower...

Choices, Challenges, and Career Consequences of Global Work Experiences: A Review and Future Agenda

Over the past 20 years, there has been increased interest in global forms of employment. Researchers have identified and investigated a number of global work experiences, including corporate and self-initiated expatriates as well as more novel forms of corporate global employees (flexpatriates, short-term assignees, and international business travelers). In this article, the authors review the empirical research that has investigated individual choices, challenges, and career consequences associated with the various types of global work. They summarize and synthesize this growing body of literature and then develop a taxonomy of global work experiences. Based on their review of this literature and their taxonomy, the authors outline an agenda for future research on global work experiences.

Forgotten partners of international assignments: Development and test of a model of spouse adjustment.

The authors developed and tested a model of spouse adjustment to international assignments in a sequence of qualitative and quantitative investigations. From in-depth interviews with expatriate spouses, half of whom had either positive or negative experiences living abroad, the authors identified several potentially important sources of adjustment. These constructs were integrated with others from identity theory and earlier research on expatriates to develop a conceptual model of spouse adjustment. The model was tested by collecting multisource questionnaire data from 221 international assignee couples working in 37 countries. Correlation and regression analyses revealed several important relationships between individual, interpersonal relationship, and environmental sources of identity, and the adjustment of expatriate spouses.

GOING PLACES: ROADS MORE AND LESS TRAVELED IN RESEARCH ON EXPATRIATE EXPERIENCES

We review 25 years of research on expatriate experiences concentrating on expatriate adjustment as a central construct, and relying on a general stressor-stress-strain framework. First, we consider who expatriates are, why their experiences differ from domestic employees, and what adjustment is. Conceptualizing (mal)adjustment in terms of stress, we next review the stressors and strains associated with it. Consolidating the wide range of antecedents (anticipatory and in-country) that have been studied to date, we note major patterns of effects and their implications for how HR managers can facilitate adjustment. Although relatively less research has focused on the consequences of adjustment, enough evidence exists to establish a bottom-line impact of poor adjustment on performance. To stimulate future efforts to understand the experiences of expatriates, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of continuing down this road of research.

Work and family domain stressors and support: Within- and cross-domain influences on work–family conflict

The purpose of this study is to examine the within- and cross-domain influences of work and family domain stressors and support on two forms of work–family conflict (i.e. WIF: work interference with family, and FIW: family interference with work). To test our hypotheses, we collected multi-source data from 248 Hong Kong employees and their spouses. Among the proposed work domain antecedents of WIF, time commitment and work role expectation were significant. Among the proposed family domain antecedents of FIW, parental demands were significant. Direct cross-domain effects included family role expectation and parental demand on WIF and work role expectation and family-friendly policies on FIW. Tests of the moderating effects of work and family support resulted in support for both within-domain and cross-domain interactions. Implications for researchers and human resource managers are discussed.