The double-edged sword of ethnic similarity for expatriates

Article

Fan, S. and Harzing, A. 2021. The double-edged sword of ethnic similarity for expatriates. Organizational Dynamics. 50 (4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2020.100801
TypeArticle
TitleThe double-edged sword of ethnic similarity for expatriates
AuthorsFan, S. and Harzing, A.
Abstract

Identifying employees to represent headquarters (HQ) effectively in overseas units is a management challenge faced by all multinational corporations (MNCs). To date, management of this type of expatriate employees has accorded a central role to culture, such as understanding cultural differences, facilitating cultural adaptation and adjustment, and cultivating cultural intelligence. Although culture is a critical factor in ex-plaining expatriates’ experiences, identity offers an alternative angle to reveal the challenges that occur when expatriates interact with host country employees. In this article, we introduce ethnically similar expatriates – a sub-category of expatriates who share an ethnicity with host country employees – to showcase the role of identity, especially the interpersonal dynamics associated with ethnic similarity.

Sustainable Development Goals9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
Research GroupDiversity and Gender group
PublisherElsevier
JournalOrganizational Dynamics
ISSN0090-2616
Electronic1873-3530
Publication dates
Online22 Oct 2020
Print27 Nov 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Oct 2020
Deposited09 Oct 2020
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© 2020. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2020.100801
LanguageEnglish
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