Question

Discuss the role of expatriate training.

Answer 1

Expatriate education and training is necessary in a global marketplace to ensure effective communication and business success. Expatriates' training programs within company could include language courses, international business development or cultural communications, but don't leave out the most personal aspect of international assignments. Often, it's a family's inability to adapt that leads to initial assignment hiccups.
An expatriates success depends on how fast they ‘Acculturate’ (absorb) in the host country. In expatriate training focuses : On ascertaining the cultural awareness of the individual, and On ascertaining the ‘fit’ for the host country’s culture, how similar/ dissimilar is the culture of the expats’ culture from that of the host country.

ROLE OF EXPATRIATE

1. AGENT OF DIRECT CONTROL:

• subsidiary compliance through direct supervision
• enables strategic objectives for local operations to be achieved

      2.AGENT OF SOCIALIZATION:

• the transfer of shared values and beliefs; related to the use
  of corporate culture as an informal control mechanism
• assist in knowledge sharing and competence transfer, and
  adoption of common work practice

       3.NETWORK BUILDERS:

• develop social capital: fostering interpersonal linkages that can be used for informal control and communication.

       4.BOUNDARY SPANNERS:   

• collect host country information and act as representatives of their firms in the host country
• can influence agents
• bridge internal and external organizational contexts purposes

       5.LANGUAGE NODES

• many MNEs operate through language standardization – or corporate language, usually English.
• employees competent in other languages may be the person in which other country representatives preferred to conduct queries from the MNE.

       6.Transfer of Competence and Knowledge

• elements from all roles

Importance of Expatriates in Organizations

• Improve Local Market Knowledge

             By living and working in export territories, expatriates gain a deeper understanding of local market conditions, business practices and cultural factors than employees who try to conduct overseas business from headquarters.

• Instill Company Culture

              Expatriates work closely with overseas subsidiaries, distributors, agents and joint venture partners to ensure they understand the parent companies’ culture, standards and values.

• Transfer Knowledge

              Expatriates transfer knowledge and skills to overseas partners. If they are setting up manufacturing operations, for example, expatriates can help partners implement corporate working practices and quality standards or use techniques and technologies developed in the parent company.

• Increase Local Control

        By appointing expatriates to manage business in export territories, organizations can increase business and financial control over local ope
• Develop Management Talent      

                Appointing employees to overseas assignments helps organizations develop their management skills and competencies. Expatriates learn to recognize and understand the diversity of local market conditions rations. They establish financial and operational targets with business partners, work with them to achieve targets and monitor performance

• Changing Role

         While expatriates make an important contribution to helping their organizations develop export markets, their role is changing, according to TLNT, a website dedicated to talent management and human resources.