Analysing a group of International Assignees previously ignored in Global Mobility research.

What is it about?

The administrative system of the EU employs over 55,000 people and uses several types of international assignments to move staff within it. We investigate one specific type, called SNEs, to demonstrate that it is both widely and continuously used and also that it has distinct characteristics compared to normal definitions of expatriates. These differences draw attention to issues which may apply more generally and affect our understanding of expatriates and how HR might manage them.

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Why is it important?

The uniqueness of SNEs draws attention to how the relationship between the organisations sending and receiving international assignees affects the value achieved by those involved. Conflicting goals between these organisations affects the value both to the organisations and to the individuals involved. Existing research into the value that organisations achieve from expatriation tends to analyse only one party (the subsidiary receiving the assignee) or assume that the organisation is singular without intra-organisational conflict.

Perspectives