The assignment to work as a manager in another country may come as a highlight for many managers but not all are successful and the failure rate is considerable. Managers who come with a proven track record in their home country may face serious difficulties to achieve their targets in a foreign business environment. The failure of some expatriates may be the result of the roles they are required to play when taking up their overseas assignments. Roles which encourage expatriate managers to apply without modification the assumptions and values from their home country to their host culture. It also shows that the adaptation of the expatriate is not only influenced by the extent to which the manager is open to learning about the host society, but also whether the manager can reconcile conflict between deeply held personal values and the culture of that society.

With the increasing globalization of business and the expansion in the numbers of managers who will spend at least some years of their career abroad, the management of expatriates, their recruitment, selection, training and career development have become issues of concern. The costs involved in using expatriate managers are high.

The reasons for failures are many, but perhaps the most important is the inability of the managers and their families to make the adjustments to living and working in a different culture. Expatriates are confronted by a very rich learning environment. Not only do they have to succeed in a culture which they do not fully understand, perhaps speaking a language they are not familiar with, but also the support systems and networks that they had developed at home are no longer available to them. But if they can be encouraged to exploit this learning opportunity as fully as possible, then they may be able to make their experience yield up its riches.

For many expatriates the stay in a new country is accompanied by questions such as what is available, what are the support systems, how are things done, what drives the people, what are the values and how can their family integrate in a way that they are able to enjoy their stay. Questions such as selecting the right school, finding a professional and reliable hospital or dealing with authorities, workmen or the maid must be answered. While one partner usually must cope with the challenges at the workplace, the other must find a way to establish a new and meaningful life in a foreign place.

We are familiar with the country, the regulations, the people and the practices. We provide you with a smooth entry to a better understanding of the socio-cultural environment, the possibilities and the risks which you will face in your new home. The main task is to show the expatriate and his family how the differences of the host country can be overcome, how conflicts can be avoided and what advantages are available compared to their home country.

We help you to find the right answers suitable for your lifestyle and interests.