Choices in Appointing International Managers

Globalization is requiring companies to make important choices about how to deploy international managers. The costs of making the wrong choice are heavy both economically and in the emotional and physical toll it can take on employees and the impact it can have on the overseas branch.

Traditionally companies have required managers to accept foreign postings of, perhaps, several years' duration. Such postings mean upheaval for the manager's entire family-schools, dual career issues, isolation-and these problems of adapting to different cultures are a common cause of the failure of such postings. The burden on the manager is heavy with the double challenge of dealing with unfamiliar work patterns and anxiety about the family's ability to settle away from home.

A compromise is for assignments to be shorter, no more than one year. Such postings permit greater choice for the employee. The family may wish to come along but no long-term adaptation is required. Or the family may stay behind and be content to visit, knowing that the absence is not too long. This is clearly less disruptive for the employee but means the company has an additional burden of making new postings every year.

More recently, we have seen the emergence of the international commuter, who ostensibly lives at home, but commutes every week or so to the job abroad. This is less disruptive for families but is likely to lead to travel fatigue, even burnout for the employee.

A further option is for a key employee to make frequent trips to a foreign branch without actually relocating and doing so only when physical presence is a necessity-this choice is made easier by technologies that allow video meetings, telephone conferences, use of intranets and other means of real-time remote contact.

A recent study by Cranfield Centre for Research into the Management of Expatriation (CREME) found that organizations are increasing their use of all four types of handling international assignments. However, many questions remain about how companies can find the best solutions for staffing overseas branches.

Although more flexible working patterns have been sought because employees clearly have difficulty in dealing with long-term overseas postings, the newer patterns are not themselves necessarily any easier to handle or more successful. The short-term assignment affects continuity of staffing and, in many cultures, frequent changes of manager are themselves a source of difficulty. The international commuter may cause local resentment by being seen as somebody imposed from outside who does not really wish to integrate with the local operation. Similarly, the frequent flyer will have less influence locally and is likely to find performance impaired both at home and abroad simply from the strain of travel.

Globalization has opened up exciting prospects for companies but the Cranfield study suggests that, while the economic opportunities are well understood, the best means of staffing overseas operations are not. Companies need a much more holistic view of the costs of an international assignment: the costs of relocating somebody (financial, emotional, physical) and the local costs of bad placements, cultural misunderstandings and inefficiency, all of which can be reflected in poor year-end results.

How can companies achieve this overview? Will they want to? To answer the second question first, it seems obvious that those companies that take the issue seriously are the ones likely to have the greater success in the global economy. As to the 'how', it will need a strategic approach that matches the company's goals. However, a strategy can only be implemented after a proper study of all the factors involved:

? How long will it take a manager to become proficient in the overseas branch?
? What preparation does the manager need before taking up the posting?
? What support does the manager need in post?
? What are the impacts on family life and how can they be mitigated?
? What are the behavioural adjustments needed by the manager and the family in order to function in the new environment?
? What will the process of repatriation entail?
? How can the knowledge gained form each posting be garnered and used for the next assignments?
? How can the local branches be supported while they adjust to a new manager?

Undoubtedly there are many more questions that need to be raised. But one thing is clear: globalization is here for the long term, and if companies are to succeed they need to take the issue of overseas appointments very seriously indeed.

Brenda Townsend Hall is a business communications and cross-cultural trainer. She is an associate member of the Itap International Alliance (http://www.itapintl.com).

---

Invoice Factoring for Goverment Vendors

Assignment of Claims Act of 1986"....What does this mean for you?What does this mean to you? Simply, the U.S Government encourages their vendors to seek accounts receivable... Read More

Five Problem-Solving Success Tips

The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important than ever in today's tough economy.From the time we're little kids, we're taught to solve problems by... Read More

Successful Managing Through Delegation

Managers should avoid the tendency to constantly delegate to the same one or two capable individuals. This practice only overloads the best personnel while slighting all others.As... Read More

10 Ways To Maintain Profits In A Slow Economy

1. Sell more back end products to your existing customer base. You already created rapport, trust and proved your credibility to them.2. Make it a practice to... Read More

Being a Great Boss

Are you one of those bosses that people just love to hate? Maybe successful, maybe very intelligent, maybe organized and moving forward but just can't get along... Read More

Smart Hiring: What Makes the Right Employee?

Good hires do not happen by accident or luck. In this economy, employers are finding a large pool of available workers. But finding the right employee for... Read More

How To Write Commercial Collections Letters

It is sometimes valuable to bring the sales manager into this step of the collection process. Information concerning the delinquency can often be obtained from the sales... Read More

Its All About The Customers, Baby

If you want to ensure a steady stream of customers in your business, you must always remember why you're in business in the first place.Sure you want... Read More

Uncommon Common Sense ? Know What is the Most Important Thing in Your Business

Over 3 of my meetings with 3 business owners last week, what really shocked me was how uncommon common sense was. 2 out of 3 I spoke... Read More

Recruitment - What Youre Really, Really Looking For

Imagine that you're a sports coach and you need a new player on the team. Would you walk up to someone in the street and say -... Read More

Why Your Business Needs an E-Mail Policy

Why is it imperative to have a company E-Mail Policy? It is simply good business, that's why! In addition, having a clear and detailed e-mail policy in... Read More

How To Decrease Profits Without Really Trying

Hurting your sales efforts can be accomplished easily with the proper guidance. The following effective yet simple ideas are designed to generate results when implemented into your... Read More

Business is About Making Money

Ask most people why they are in business and they will give you any number of reasons. Things such as wanting to improve the lives of others;... Read More

Designing Your Healthy Administration - A Management Overview

Management or Leadership?Simply stated, management ensures that things get done, in accordance with accepted policies, based on the reality of a situation. It involves deciding the how,... Read More

Performance Evaluations Can Be Beneficial

THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW MEETING: It's a fact - most supervisors and employees have negative feelings toward performance appraisals and appraisal interviews. It's often necessary to shift people's... Read More

Boost Your Leadership Skills By Disciplining Yourself In The Way Of The Question Mark

I'm often asked to come in to organizations and give a motivational speech to their employees. I reply that I'm not a motivational speaker. Never have been.... Read More

Meeting Your Meeting Expectations

"To get something done a meeting should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent." ~Author unknownOne of the complaints I hear most... Read More

Where Businesses Fall Short

1. No vision. Successful businesses have a clear vision or picture of their business purpose and mission. Your vision serves as a roadmap to help you see... Read More

Is this A Good Time To Sell Your Body Shop Business?

Have you ever asked yourself the question? "Is this a good time to sell my business?" That is a question every business owner asks himself, everytime he... Read More

Management & Leadership - Doing it right in the 21st Century

The Old Way ? Command and ControlAlthough workplaces and management styles have come a long way in the last decade, the command and control style of management... Read More

The Gift of Gratitude

Gratitude might seem like a soft or even an obvious subject to you. Perhaps you would rather read about a leadership lesson or a marketing approach or... Read More

More Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Tips (Part 2 of 2)

Does your company need to retain the services of a competent computer consulting firm, but you have no idea how to really evaluate "competence"? In the first... Read More

Business Leadership Skills - Managing the Human Being Behind the Business

Managing the Human Being Behind the Business It's a common problem and we've all seen it - business owners that are just 'too busy' all... Read More

The Best Way to Keep Track of Meetings

How should you keep track of meetings?Have you ever wanted to run away from a meeting? I worked for one of the top five companies in the... Read More

Cheat Sheet; Understanding The MSDS and Your Obligations In The Workplace To Employees

MSDS SHEETSMSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheets. MSDS sheets contain nine sections. These sections are:I. General InformationII. IngredientsIII. Physical DataIV. Fire and Explosion Hazard DataV. Health... Read More

Managers? Biggest Blunders

Nobody's perfect, including the boss. Managers, we polled recently, acknowledged making a number of mistakes, from not recognizing staff accomplishments to inadequate communication to poor hiring decisions.... Read More