To What Extent Do the Benefits of Using Expatriate Employees Outweigh the Difficulties of Managing Them

To what extent do the benefits of using expatriate employees outweigh the difficulties of managing themMost MNCs depend extensively on expatriates in their internationalisation strategy, as expatriates play an important role in providing technical and managerial skills needed to set up and manage subsidiaries globally (Collings, Scullion, & Dowling, 2009; Collings & Scullion, 2006). Expatriates also serve as organisational developers that bridge the subsidiaries and the head office, and facilitate the assimilation of a common corporate culture and best practises throughout the organisation (Edström & Galbraith, 1977; Harzing, 2001; Collings, Scullion, & Morley, 2007). Moreover, expatriation is seen as an important step in the process of developing global managers that understand international business (Edström & Galbraith, 1977; Harzing, 2001; Collings et al., 2007). Because of these reasons, deploying expatriates is commonly believed to be crucial in order to successfully integrate international operations, and to realise synergies globally (Collings et al., 2009).Most MNCs depend extensively on expatriates in their internationalisation strategy, as expatriates play an important role in providing technical and managerial skills needed to set up and manage subsidiaries globally (Collings, Scullion, & Dowling, 2009; Collings & Scullion, 2006). Expatriates also serve as organisational developers that bridge the subsidiaries and the head office, and facilitate the assimilation of a common corporate culture and best practises throughout the organisation (Edström & Galbraith, 1977; Harzing, 2001; Collings, Scullion, & Morley, 2007). Moreover, expatriation is seen as an important step in the process of developing global managers that understand international business (Edström & Galbraith, 1977; Harzing, 2001; Collings et al., 2007). Because of these reasons, deploying expatriates is commonly believed to be crucial in order to successfully integrate international operations, and to realise synergies globally (Collings et al., 2009).