Using social media and online collaboration technology in expatriate management: Benefits, challenges, and recommendations

Abstract

This article emphasizes the benefits of social media and online collaboration technology use in expatriate management, and the need to pay special attention to digitalization‐related issues in supporting expatriates and their family members before, during, and after international assignments. In particular, we argue that the traditional approaches to expatriate management need to be developed further to reflect current technological advancements, especially social media and online collaboration tools that are increasingly used by millions of individuals worldwide on a daily basis—a trend that has been reinforced by the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related social contact and international mobility restrictions. For this purpose, we show the advantages of implementing the above digital technologies in a number of instances, ranging from the recruitment and selection of international assignees to the cultural adjustment of expatriates and their families in a foreign country. Given these benefits, and the need to account for potential challenges associated with the use of or a high reliance on digital technology during expatriate assignments to both culturally close and distant countries, we outline recommendations that will guide the management of these digital tools by assigning organizations.

Impact of Staff Localization on Turnover: The Role of a Foreign Subsidiary CEO

“…Moreover, as local employees gain experience, they are likely to become disgruntled with their secondary positions, as they are unable to advance their careers because of their expatriates’ management positions [ 18 ]. Finally, employers in host countries localize management positions because they are beneficial in terms of cost savings and local knowledge from the standpoint of local managers [ 19 ].…”

Wanderlust to wonderland? : Exploring key issues in expatriate careers: Individual, organizational, and societal insights

“…Evidence shows that technology also plays an essential role in the lives and work of expatriates. Many expatriate newcomers and their families use social media as a tool to obtain social support, seek information, learn about the host culture, and for comfort before and after their relocation (Nardon et al, 2015;Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021). We identified several digital applications developed with the sole purpose of assisting expatriates with specific issues (e.g., tax consultation, cultural training), partially replacing the conventional roles of global mobility service providers (Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021).…”

“…Many expatriate newcomers and their families use social media as a tool to obtain social support, seek information, learn about the host culture, and for comfort before and after their relocation (Nardon et al, 2015;Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021). We identified several digital applications developed with the sole purpose of assisting expatriates with specific issues (e.g., tax consultation, cultural training), partially replacing the conventional roles of global mobility service providers (Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021). Virtual working became particularly common during the pandemic, during which also SIEs worked primarily from home (Arslan et al, 2021) and many others repatriated prematurely due to health and security concerns (Koveshnikov et al, 2022).…”

“…Virtual working became particularly common during the pandemic, during which also SIEs worked primarily from home (Arslan et al, 2021) and many others repatriated prematurely due to health and security concerns (Koveshnikov et al, 2022). However, working remotely via an online platform faced obstacles such as Internet availability and stability, data protection, information overload, and psychological well-being (Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021).…”

Online collaborative tools for science education: Boosting learning outcomes, motivation, and engagement

“…They not only promote inter‐student communication and collaboration but also heighten student involvement and motivation. Furthermore, these platforms provide opportunities for students to apply their acquired knowledge to real‐world situations, offering a myriad of benefits, from enhancing student engagement to facilitating practical applications (Hernández‐Sellés et al, 2019; Khomokhoana & Kogeda, 2021; Sahakiants & Dorner, 2021; Yates et al, 2021). These real‐time, interactive applications, which permit students to connect and collaborate among themselves and with educators, present a spectrum of opportunities (Jeschofnig & Jeschofnig, 2011; Widyahastuti et al, 2017).…”