Global mobility:

how to avoid international assignment failure

Expatriate failure encompasses a range of issues that prevent return on investment (RIO) from an expatriate including the early return, underperformance, or adjustment problems.

How to prevent international assignment failure?

International assignment failure rates will depend on the country and challenges presented to the ex-pat. Some studies estimate employee assignments to developed countries will have a failure rate of 25% to 40%, and in underdeveloped countries, the rate jumps to 70%. With direct costs of a failed assignment ranging from US$250,000 to US$1 million or more, no wonder companies are looking at solutions to mitigate the causes and reduce the risks.

 
Ex-pat executive

Supporting the assignee

The importance of providing cross-cultural training aims at:

Helping employees feel comfortable living and working in a host country, thus being quickly efficient in their new role building teamwork, and increase motivation thus productivity.

Adopting cultural flexibility in reducing culture shock and help to manage it on a long-term basis.

Managing greatly expanded responsibility and overload better, thus reaching KPI quickly in becoming a global leader.

Training such as knowledge of cultural and societal norms in their host country helps expatriates to recognize the influence of their own cultural backgrounds and be sensitive to cross-cultural differences.

 

Supporting the family

Reducing stress for the whole family, as well as looking after the mental and physical wellbeing can include the spouse in pre-assignment training.

Elements of pre-departure training that partners should be present for can include Cultural overview - Language lessons - Education - Associations - Practical support for the move, etc…

Once arrived in the host country, local support can offer them advice on getting set-up in their new country such as building social connections; basic knowledge of the area in which they will be living and working, and finally the host country values and codes of behaviour in order to build up a new life and social network.