Factors Contributing to Expatriate Adjustment to Life in Malaysia

  • Teddy Kok Fei Lian Department of International Business, Faculty of Accontancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia
  • Li Yen Lim Department of International Business, Faculty of Accontancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia
Keywords: cultural intelligence, language ability, open-mindedness, tenure in Malaysia, expatriate adjustment

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the factors contributing to expatriate adjustment to life in Malaysia. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory and previous research, the independent variables of cultural intelligence, language ability, open-mindedness, tenure in Malaysia, previous overseas experience and monthly income, are used in this study to predict expatriate adjustment. A survey questionnaire was developed and analysis done on 80 expatriates from four industries in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Results of regression analysis using the PROCESS software showed that cultural intelligence, language ability open-mindedness, tenure in Malaysia and gender explained 76.2% of the variance in expatriate adjustment in Malaysia. Furthermore, tenure in Malaysia moderated cultural intelligence. However, previous overseas assignments and monthly income did not have any relationships with expatriate adjustment. The applicability of the conservation of resources theory to explain expatriate adjustment is clearly established in this study as all the variables that are significant predictors of expatriate adjustment are resources.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acevedo, A. & Shane, M.J. (2019). A new training program in developing cultural intelligence can also improve innovative work behavior and resilience: A longitudinal pilot study of graduate students and professional employees. The International Journal of Management Education, 17, 100303.

Adler, N. (2002). Global Managers, no longer men alone. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13, 743-60.

Ali, A., Van der Zen, K.  & Sanders, G. (2003). Determinants of intercultural adjustment among expatriate spouses. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27, 563-580.

Andersen, M., Bergdolt, F., Margenfeld, J. & Dickmann, M. (2014). Addressing international mobility confusion–Developing definitions and differentiations for self-initiated and assigned expatriates as well as migrants. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(16), 2295–2318.

Bruning, N.S., Sonpar, K., and Wang, X.  (2012).  Host-country national networks and expatriate effectiveness: A mixed-methods study. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(4), 444-450.

Caie, L. J. N. (2009). When all roads lead to Rome: expatriate adjustment in a United Nations Organisation: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Organisational Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University).

Dowling, P. J. & Welch, D. E. (2004). International Human Resource Management Managing People in a Multinational Context (4th ed.). Thomson Learning, London.

Earley, P. C., & Ang, S. (2003). Cultural intelligence: Individual interactions across cultures. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press.

Evans, E. H. (2012). Expatriate success: cultural intelligence and personality as predictors for cross-cultural adjustment.

Fang, F., Schei, V, & Selart, M. (2018). Hype or hope? A new look at the research on cultural intelligence. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 66, 148-171,

Farh, C.I.C., Bartol, K., Shapiro, D.L. & Shin, J. 2010. Networking abroad: A process model of how expatriates form support ties to facilitate adjustment. Academy of Management Review, 35(3), 434-454.

Grelecka, J.D. (2016). What factors affect expatriate adjustment? Study of differences between self-initiated and assigned expatriates in Poland. Unpublished master’s thesis, ISCTE Business School.

Guomundsdottir, S. (2015). Nordic expatriates in the US: The relationship between cultural intelligence and adjustment. International Journal of Intercultural relations, 47, 175-186.

Hair Jr., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., and Anderson, R.E. (2014). Multivariate Data Analysis. Pearson: London.

Halbesleben, J.R., Neveu, J.P., Paustian-Underdahl, S., & Westman, M. (2014). Getting to the “COR”: Understanding the role of resources in conservation of resources theory. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1334-1364.

Harari, M.B., Reaves, A.C., Beane, D.A., Laginess, A.J. & Viswesvaran, C. (2018). Personality and expatriate adjustment: A meta-analysis. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 91, 486-517.

Hippler, T. (2006). Another scandal in Bohemia? A look back on how we measure expatriate adjustment. New Directions in Expatriate Research, 64-93.

Hobfall, S.E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513-524.

Huang, T-J., Chi, S-C., & Lawler, J.J. (2005). The relationship between expatriates’ personality traits and their adjustment to international assignments. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16, 1656-1670

Huff, K.C., Song, P.P., & Gresch, E.B. (2014). Cultural intelligence, personality, and cross-cultural adjustment: A study of expatriates in Japan, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 38, 151-157.

Jenkins, E.M.. & Mockaitis, A.I. (2010). You’re from where? The influence of distance factors on New Zealand expatriates’ cross-cultural experience. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(15), 2694-2715.

Jyoti, J. and Kour, S. (2013). Assessing the cultural intelligence and task performance equation. Cross-Cultural Management, 22(2),236-258.

Kraimer, M.L., Wayne, S.J., & Jaworski, R.A. (2001). Sources of support and expatriate performance: The moderating role of expatriate adjustment. Personnel Psychology, 54, 71-99.

Kumar, N., Rose, R. C., Ramalu, & Sri, S. (2008). The effects of personality and cultural intelligence on international assignment effectiveness: A review. Journal of Social Sciences, 4(4), 320–328.

Lauring, J. & Selmer, J. (2010).  Multicultural organisations: Common language and group cohesiveness. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 10(3), 267-282.

Malek, M.A. & Budhwar, P. (2013). Cultural intelligence as a predictor of expatriate adjustment and performance in Malaysia, Journal of World Business, 48, 222–231

Naithani, P. & Jha., A.N. (2009). Model of expatriate adjustment and framework for organisational support. The Alternative. Journal of Management Studies and Research, 8(1), 34-41

Nunes, I.M., Felix, B., & Prates, L.A. (2017). Cultural intelligence, cross-cultural adaptation and expatriate performance: a study with expatriates living in Brazil. Journal of Human Resources and Organizations, 52(3), 219-232.

Nzitunga, J. B. & Nyanway, C. M. (2019). Influence of Cross-Cultural Competences on Adaptive Performance of United Nations Peacebuilding Practitioners, 9(1), 1-13.

Okpara, J.O., and Kabongo, J.D. (2011). Cross-cultural training and expatriate adjustment: A study of western expatriates in Nigeria. Journal of World Business, 46, 22-30.

Ott, D.L.& Michailova, S. (2018). Cultural intelligence: A review and new research avenues. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20, 99-119.

Parker, B., & McEvoy, G.M. (1993). Initial examination of a model of intercultural adjustment. Journal of Intercultural Relations, 17(3),355-379.

Peltokorpi, V. & Froese, F.J. (2012). The impact of expatriate personality traits on cross-cultural adjustment: A study with expatriates in Japan. International Business Review, 21, 734-746.

Penney, L.M., Hunter, E.M., & Perry, S.J. (2011). Personality and counterproductive work behavior: Using conservation of resources theory to narrow the profile of deviant employees. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 84, 58-77  

Richardson, C., Tan, G.H. and Kiumarsi, S. (2018) Personality traits and expatriate adjustment in Malaysia, Journal of Asia Business Studies, 12(4), 594-612.

Richardson, W., von Kirchenheim, C. & Richardson, C.  (2006). Teachers and their international relocation: The effect of self-esteem and pay satisfaction on adjustment and outcome variables. International Education Journal, 77, 883-894.

Rodsai, T., Stoffers, J., & Talim, M.B. (2017) Cross-Cultural Adjustment: A Case of Thai Expatriates In Indonesia. Journal of Applied Business Research, 33(6).

Selmer, J. (2006). Language ability and adjustment: Western expatriates in China. Thunderbird International Business Review, 48(3), 347-368.

Selmer, J., & Lauring, J. (2015). Host country language ability and expatriate adjustment: the moderating effect of language difficulty. Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(3), 401-420.

Shaffer, M.A., Harrison, D.A. and Gilley, K.M. (1999). Dimensions, determinants and differences in the expatriate adjustment process. Journal of International Business Studies, 30(3), 557-581.

Sri Ramalu, S., Chuah, C.W., & Che Rose, R. (2011). The effects of cultural intelligence on cross-cultural adjustment and job performance amongst expatriates in Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(9), 59-71.

Torbion. I. (1982). Living abroad: personal adjustment and personnel policy in the overseas setting. John Wliey and Sons.

Triandis, H. C. (2006). Cultural intelligence in organizations. Group and Organization Management, 31(1), 20–26.

Templer, K.J., Tay, C., & Chandrasekar, N.A. (2006). Motivational Cultural Intelligence, Realistic Job Preview, Realistic Living Conditions Preview, and Cross-Cultural Adjustment. Group Organization Management, 31(1),154-173.

Van der Zee, K., Van Oudenhoven, J. P., & De Grijis, E. (2004). Personality, threat, and cognitive and emotional reactions to stressful intercultural situations. Journal of Personality, 72, 1069-1096.

Wang, Y-L. & Tran, E. 2012. Effects of cross-cultural and language training on expatriate’s adjustment and job performance in Vietnam. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 50(3), 327-350.

Waqar, U. (2011) Cross-cultural challenges to expatriate in Finland. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Vaasa.

Ward, C., & Kennedy, A. (1996). Before and  after cross-cultural transition: A study of New Zealand volunteers on field assignments. Key Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology, 138-154.

Waxin, M.F. (2004). Expatriates’ interaction adjustment: The direct and  moderator effects of culture of origin. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 28(1), 61-79.

Xanthopoulou, D., Bakker, A.B., Demerouti, e., & Schaufeli, W.B. (2009). Reciprocal relationships between job resources, personal resources and work engagement. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74, 235-244.

Xu, X. & Du-Babcock, B. (2012). Impact of English language proficiency on Chinese expatriates’ adjustment to overseas assignments. Global Advances in Business and Communication Conference and Journal, 1(1).

Zhang, L.E. & Peltokorpi, V. (2016). Multifaceted effects of host country language proficiency in expatriate cross-cultural adjustments: A qualitative study in China. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(13), 1448-1469.

Zhu, J., Wanberg, C.R., Harrison, D.A., and Diehn, E.W. (2016). Ups and Downs of the Expatriate Experience? Understanding Work Adjustment Trajectories and Career Outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 101(4), 549-568.
Published
2020-09-01
How to Cite
Lian, T. and Lim, L. (2020) “Factors Contributing to Expatriate Adjustment to Life in Malaysia”, Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 5(9), pp. 16 - 29. doi: 10.47405/mjssh.v5i9.469.
Section
Articles