Perception Biases Infuencing Expat Behavior

Host Country National’s (HCN’s) development of mistaken perceptions regarding expatriate’s behavior when the latter is culturally insensitive.

Name – Preethi Mohan

Student ID – 6517414

Course – Msc. International Management

Word Count – 2980

Subject Code - P14135

Convenor – Fifi J. Wang [17th Nov, 2014]

PAGE OF CONTENTS

Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

Description of problem statement ----------------------------------------------------------------------4

Analysis of the issue based on prevalent theoretical frameworks –----------------------------- 7

Analysis of recommended solutions and proposal of ideal solution model –-------------------9

Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Introduction

In today’s economic era, the world has become smaller and multinational corporations have become larger. Hence, we have an upsurge in the number of expatriates traveling between different countries to share best practices. However, as expatriates in a host country environment discover the hard way, what is perceived as “appropriate” Work Place Behavior (WPB) in one culture may not have the same impression in another. This article revolves around the issue of HCN’s development of mistaken perceptions and biases regarding an expatriate’s behavior if the latter is culturally unaware or insensitive. It argues that unless the expatriate is culturally sensitive in displaying his/her everyday WPBs, it is inevitable that mistaken perceptions will be formed by the HCNs. Various reasons and views behind this are discussed and analyzed in detail.

This article will consider the above mentioned issue in an organization that will be referred to as “Company M”. What follows is a description of the problem statement, generalized prevalence of the problem in similar settings, analysis of the reasons behind the problem based on the...