Scenarios & Courses of Actions
Scenario One
Will international companies stop sending out expats because of the costs and disadvantages of culture shock?
From the information that around 16% to 40% of all expats return home early it is very likely that companies lose a lot of money on failed assignments. According to a research done by J. Stewart Black and Hal B. Gregersen (authors of So You’re Going Overseas and So You’re Coming Home, handbooks for expatriates) a company can invest from $300,000 to $1 million annually on just one expat and his family. If they spend all this money on them and the expats decide not to finish the work the companies will have lost a large amount of money on the assignment. Not only this, but the research also showed that out of the expats who finished the assignment, nearly one-third of them did not reach the expectations set by the company. Furthermore one-fourth of the expats who completed their assignment left the company and in many cases joined a competitor shortly after.
From the information that around 16% to 40% of all expats return home early it is very likely that companies lose a lot of money on failed assignments. According to a research done by J. Stewart Black and Hal B. Gregersen (authors of So You’re Going Overseas and So You’re Coming Home, handbooks for expatriates) a company can invest from $300,000 to $1 million annually on just one expat and his family. If they spend all this money on them and the expats decide not to finish the work the companies will have lost a large amount of money on the assignment. Not only this, but the research also showed that out of the expats who finished the assignment, nearly one-third of them did not reach the expectations set by the company. Furthermore one-fourth of the expats who completed their assignment left the company and in many cases joined a competitor shortly after.
Course of Action One
In the future expats should be able to find help for culture shock before and during their stay abroad.
International companies need to inform their expats what they can expect and prepare them for the effects of culture shock before they move. Companies could also tell from the skills that expatriates present (such as their linguistic abilities, cultural curiosity, interpersonal skills, patience and respect, cultural empathy, strong sense of self or ego strength and a sense of humor which are all important skills to have when facing culture shock) if they could be good candidates for moving abroad. But even informing the expatriates will not stop the individuals from experiencing culture shock completely as it is a natural process of moving, however it may most likely reduce it so the expat can finish the assignment and the contracted stay. However talking to other expatriates can also help, joining communities (online and offline) and sharing experiences and organizing discussion sessions with both locals and expatriates to share feelings and solve problems can help largely.
International companies need to inform their expats what they can expect and prepare them for the effects of culture shock before they move. Companies could also tell from the skills that expatriates present (such as their linguistic abilities, cultural curiosity, interpersonal skills, patience and respect, cultural empathy, strong sense of self or ego strength and a sense of humor which are all important skills to have when facing culture shock) if they could be good candidates for moving abroad. But even informing the expatriates will not stop the individuals from experiencing culture shock completely as it is a natural process of moving, however it may most likely reduce it so the expat can finish the assignment and the contracted stay. However talking to other expatriates can also help, joining communities (online and offline) and sharing experiences and organizing discussion sessions with both locals and expatriates to share feelings and solve problems can help largely.
Scenario Two
Is it difficult for children going abroad with their expat parent to adjust to the new culture, especially in international schools?
The children of expats go to international schools where there are often many different nationalities of kids who go there. For example the international schools I go to has over 80 different nationalities. This means getting to know more cultures than just the host country. According to a research done by ACS (a chain of International Schools serving both international and local communities) of students who just arrive to a new country and school are most concerned about making new friends (40%), leaving friends behind (18%), and not being able to speak English (10%). For their parents the biggest concern was adapting to a new lifestyle or culture, 18 per cent, finding a good school for their children, 15 percent; and, somewhat differently, driving on the left-hand side of the road, eight percent. However going to school gives a set routine and lifestyle that the children quickly get into and it helps them. It depends on the type of child of course, but in an international school the culture is often not as intense because it does not have a specific religion or culture that it follows.
The children of expats go to international schools where there are often many different nationalities of kids who go there. For example the international schools I go to has over 80 different nationalities. This means getting to know more cultures than just the host country. According to a research done by ACS (a chain of International Schools serving both international and local communities) of students who just arrive to a new country and school are most concerned about making new friends (40%), leaving friends behind (18%), and not being able to speak English (10%). For their parents the biggest concern was adapting to a new lifestyle or culture, 18 per cent, finding a good school for their children, 15 percent; and, somewhat differently, driving on the left-hand side of the road, eight percent. However going to school gives a set routine and lifestyle that the children quickly get into and it helps them. It depends on the type of child of course, but in an international school the culture is often not as intense because it does not have a specific religion or culture that it follows.
Course of Action Two
International schools should help expat children get through the culture change and shock as smoothly as possible.
When students who don’t know the language spoken at the school (in most cases English) they should always be put into a special program where they can get help. Many schools have ESL (English second language) which doesn’t only teach the students English but also helps them with personal problems such as making friends which is a very important factor for the students. ACS's research is shared with relocation industry professionals and organizations along with schools who are involved in relocation support and this information should really be taken into account.
When students who don’t know the language spoken at the school (in most cases English) they should always be put into a special program where they can get help. Many schools have ESL (English second language) which doesn’t only teach the students English but also helps them with personal problems such as making friends which is a very important factor for the students. ACS's research is shared with relocation industry professionals and organizations along with schools who are involved in relocation support and this information should really be taken into account.
Scenario Three
Will the intensity of culture shock decrease as the world is becoming more globalized?
Research done by J. Stewart Black and Hal B. Gregersen show that almost 80% of midsize to large companies already send professionals abroad and that 45% of the companies are planning to increase the number of expats they send out. Even the smaller local companies need to have 'a workforce that is fluent in the ways of the world’ nowadays because of the large competition. But in order to be successful in other parts of the world companies need to employ successful global managers who know how to work with different countries with different cultures and this often means the employees will have to move to these countries. The oil business for example is a primary example for countries becoming largely more dependent on each other and therefore they have more expats going to these destinations in order for proper understanding between countries and creating a successful business. This means more and more people are going abroad to work. This increase in travelling results in culture shock being talked more about and so it is becoming an issue that international companies are becoming more aware of. And so expats are moving with more preparation for the shock.
Research done by J. Stewart Black and Hal B. Gregersen show that almost 80% of midsize to large companies already send professionals abroad and that 45% of the companies are planning to increase the number of expats they send out. Even the smaller local companies need to have 'a workforce that is fluent in the ways of the world’ nowadays because of the large competition. But in order to be successful in other parts of the world companies need to employ successful global managers who know how to work with different countries with different cultures and this often means the employees will have to move to these countries. The oil business for example is a primary example for countries becoming largely more dependent on each other and therefore they have more expats going to these destinations in order for proper understanding between countries and creating a successful business. This means more and more people are going abroad to work. This increase in travelling results in culture shock being talked more about and so it is becoming an issue that international companies are becoming more aware of. And so expats are moving with more preparation for the shock.
Course of Action Three
Expats need to be aware of the consequences culture shock has on an individual person and the family in whole, both emotional and physically.
Consultant companies and international companies should explain and inform the expats about the culture and religion and other important details about the country they are travelling to. The issue of culture shock should be talked more about globally and in global news media. For example an online magazine called InterNations is available in more than 300 Communities across the globe and is made especially for international news. Many expats read this magazine. It previously had a really interesting and informing article about culture shock that I am positive would have helped many people going abroad. This article talked about the effects culture shock has on a person, the possible consequences of these effects and advice as how to prepare and deal with it all.
Consultant companies and international companies should explain and inform the expats about the culture and religion and other important details about the country they are travelling to. The issue of culture shock should be talked more about globally and in global news media. For example an online magazine called InterNations is available in more than 300 Communities across the globe and is made especially for international news. Many expats read this magazine. It previously had a really interesting and informing article about culture shock that I am positive would have helped many people going abroad. This article talked about the effects culture shock has on a person, the possible consequences of these effects and advice as how to prepare and deal with it all.