INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Training & Development

June 11, 2008

Training & Development

Human Resources are the most valuable resource in any organization Human Resources cannot exist in a static state. The pool of knowledge, skills and abilities which individuals possess and have accumulated over time, and which is a crucial input for the organization, must be nurtured and promoted by organizations Training and Development is the tool for improving the quality of an organizations human resources
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Training & Development Training aims to improve current work skills and behaviour (current focus)

Development aims to increase an employees abilities in relation to some future position or job (future focus)
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International Training & Development

Recruitment & Selection DEVELOPMENT International Team

TRAINING

External Hiring

Predeparture Training

International Assignments

June 11, 2008

Expatriate Training
Training is considered as an investment in boosting an expatriates performance Expatriate training prior to dispatch to the foreign assignment location includes creating cultural awareness, especially in relation to assignments meant for culturally tough locations (learning to cope with unexpected events) Research studies undertaken over the past approx. 20 years indicate that many organizations neglect to provide expatriates with adequate predeparture training, whereby differences exist between US, European and Japanese organizations More organizations have started considering the requirements of the spouse and family in their predeparture training programs
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Cultural Awareness

The goal of cultural awareness programs is to enhance the expatriates understanding of the host country so that he or she can adjust and behave accordingly, and avoid getting into difficult situations Cultural awareness programs do not have a standard, universally applicable format, rather, they depend on factors such as the country of assignment, nature of the expatriates job, available time to undertake training Typical training elements include things like area studies, cultural considerations, language skills, sensitivity training and field experiences
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Cultural Awareness

Tung has proposed the following training framework for expatriates: If the expected interaction between the expatriate and members of the host culture is low, and if the degree of cultural dissimilarity between the expatriates culture and the host culture is also low, then cultural issues in training can take on secondary importance in relation to task or job-related issues. The level of training rigour can be low in this case If the expected interaction between the expatriate and members of the host culture is high, and if the degree of cultural dissimilarity between the expatriates culture and the host culture is also high, then cultural issues should be correspondingly high on the expatriates training agenda. The level of training rigour can be moderate to high in this case
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Cultural Awareness

Mendenhall & Oddou have proposed a modified version of Tungs training framework for expatriates

According to Mendenhall & Oddou, there are three dimensions:

1) Training Methods 2) Levels of Training Rigour (low, medium, high 3) Duration of the Training (relative to degree of interaction and culture novelty)
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Cultural Awareness

If the expected interaction between the expatriate and members of the host culture is low, and if the degree of cultural dissimilarity between the expatriates culture and the host culture is also low, then the level of training rigour can be low and training could last for less than a week (cultural briefings, lectures, movies, books) If the expatriate is going abroad for a longer period (2 12 monthes) and is expected to have some interaction with members of the host culture, then the level of training rigour can be higher and training could last longer (1 4 weeks) (cultural briefings, lectures, movies, books, role plays)
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Cultural Awareness

If the expected interaction between the expatriate and members of the host culture is high, and if the degree of cultural dissimilarity between the expatriates culture and the host culture is also high, then the level of training rigour can be high and lasting up to 2 months (see methods above and also sensitivity training, field experiences, inter-cultural experiential workshops)

June 11, 2008

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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Preliminary Visits

Expatriates are sent to visit their host country before being sent there on an assignment The purpose of a preliminary visit is help expatriates to assess their suitability for, and their interest in the assignment, introduce them to the business context, and to make better predeparture preparations Research indicates that many organizations make use of the tool of preliminary visits for expatriates, or would consider its use Generally, preliminary visits are not offered to expatriates if the expatriates are already familiar with the country, or if the country is considered culturally close
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Language Training

Language training is an important aspect of any predeparture training program Advantages of using the English language in global business Widespread application concentration of economic and corporate power Disadvantages of using English in global business: Tendency to rely exclusively on English and not to learn other languages Foreign partners speak both English and their own languages and have an advantage over English-speakers Difficulty to monitor some environmental factors such as competitors or protecting important technology in dealing with foreign organizations and in foreign locations
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Components of Predeparture Training Programs: Language Training

Knowledge of the host countrys language offers several benefits: Expatriate performance and negotiating ability is enhanced Expatriates have easier access to important data and information needed for their assignments (for example, data and information on the host countrys economy and economic indicators, market structure, competition, investment climate, political trends) closer direct interaction with host country stakeholders is possible Research studies indicate that expatriates usually accord high importance to speaking the language of their host countries as a means of not only performing better on their assignments, but also for forming social support structures and in associating with the rest of the expatriate community Language skill-building is often omitted from predeparture training programs because of the time factor and the difficulty of monitoring employees language skills
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Practical Assistance for Expatriate and his Family

Providing the expatriate and his family practical assistance with the assumption of the new assignment, can relieve anxiety and pressure, and overcome negative feelings towards the host country Types of practical assistance include: Relocation Assistance Local Orientation Language Assistance

Some private companies are providing expatriate relocation and orientation services

June 11, 2008

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Training of HCNs and TCNs

In theory, all expatriates should be provided with adequate predeparture training prior to their dispatch on an international assignment but In practice, organizations often accord priority to training their PCNS, while (comparatively) neglecting the training needs of their HCNs and TCNs
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Training of HCNs: Some Considerations

Often, organizations localize the training of their HCNs In some instances, notable where skills and work practices are considered strategically important, HCNs may be trained in other subsidiaries in programs which are designed and implemented by the organizations headquarters (Nissan and Honda example) Training has the inherent danger, that trained employees may be wooed away from an organization by competitors with the promise of higher salaries and better opportunities
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Training of HCNs: Some Considerations

There are several good reasons for transferring HCNs to the organizations headquarters or home-subsidiary units:
Providing technical and managerial competency training (Pepsi example) Building a sense of corporate identity (Ericsson example) Personal networking Transfer of particular skills (Ford Australia example) Note: HCNs must have good command of the corporate languagein order to participate in the training programs!
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International Staff and Teams

Developing truly international teams with the corresponding level of experience involves providing the requisite training not only to PCNs, but also to non-PCNS (HCNs, TCNs) Several techniques are used to develop international teams, including international job rotation and common attendance at training training programs, international meetings and networking amongst managers

June 11, 2008

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Individual Career Development

Predeparture Training International Assignment 5 Reassignment

1 Recruitment & Selection

4 Exit Organization 3 Premature Return

2 - Deselect Parent
June 11, 2008

Repatriation
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