The elephant in the room: the role of time in expatriate adjustment

Abstract

This conceptual article explores the role of temporal dynamics in the study of expatriate adjustment. We introduce the dimensions and the domains of adjustment and discuss the dynamics between them, as well as the dynamics between antecedents, state and consequences of adjustment. Issues such as the role of time lags, duration and rate of change as well as reciprocal causation are discussed. We address the consequences of these issues for theory building in the area of expatriate adjustment and the implications for methodological choices. We conclude with specific recommendations for the future research of expatriate adjustment that recognise the nature of adjustment as a process evolving over time and that we hope will enhance the rigour and relevance of this area of research.

Social Support, Adjustment, and Psychological Distress of Help-Seeking Expatriates

“…It has been argued, however, that the process of work adjustment might be more straightforward or even easier than in other domains of adjustment (Hippler et al, 2015). But what happens when this is not the case?…”

“…More specifically, we examined: (1) the association between expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment (i.e., work, interaction and general adjustment) and levels of psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety and stress); (2) the association between expatriates’ perceptions of socioemotional and instrumental support availability and their level of cross-cultural adjustment; and (3) the moderating role of expatriates’ socioemotional and instrumental support needs in the latter association. We drew upon theoretical perspectives on expatriate adjustment (Bhaskar-Shrinivas, Harrison, Shaffer, & Luk, 2005; Black, Mendenhall & Oddou, 1991; Black & Stephens, 1989; Filipič Sterle, Fontaine, De Mol, & Verhofstadt, 2018a; Haslberger, Brewster & Hippler, 2013; Hippler, Brewster & Haslberger, 2015; Ward, Bochner & Furnham, 2001), the stress and coping literature (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Patterson, 1988; Seyle, 1978), social support theories with attention to social support availability and social support needs (Cutrona & Russell, 1990; Melrose, Brown & Wood, 2015; McGinley, 2008; Ong & Ward, 2005; Podsiadlowski, Vauclair, Spiess & Stroppa, 2013; Rafaeli & Gleason, 2009; Selmer, 1999), as well as literature on clinical interventions for the globally mobile (Bushong, 2013; Filipič Sterle, Verhofstadt, Bell & De Mol, 2018b). …”

“…The static perspective has long been the main stream in the research agendas on expatriate adjustment, thereby neglecting the time dimension and the variability of adjustment over time. Some recent research, however, documents the importance of considering the aspect of “time” when looking at the process of adjustment (see e.g., Firth, Chen, Kirkman & Kim, 2014), and to consider the specifics of adjustment processes on the three dimensions described above (Hippler et al, 2015). …”

Crossing the streams: HRM in multinational enterprises and comparative HRM

“…Indeed, the question of time in HRM convergence/divergence should be more central to empirical research efforts within both streams -within CHRM due to convergence/divergence being at its core; and within HRM in MNEs due to its conspicuous absence (Hippler, Brewster, & Haslberger, 2015). The contributions time can make to understanding changes in MNE corporate and subsidiary HRM practices can, in turn, help to shed light on the convergence/divergence debate.…”

Conceptualising the future of HRM and technology research

“…Time is an important but under-researched aspect of all HRM activities and studies (George & Jones, 2000;Hippler, Brewster, & Haslberger, 2015). Believing that human interactions with technology play a key role, we view implementation as complete only when users are contentedly working with IT and have acquired the necessary skills to master and fully understand it.…”