ABSTRACT

This chapter examines important issues and practices associated with managing traditional long-term international assignments successfully, including predeparture planning and preparation, on-site management for effective adjustment and ongoing support, and repatriation. The important considerations for the traditional Parental Country National (PCN) expatriate assignment, examines issues that might be unique to women expatriates and third country nationals in their expatriate assignments as well as Host Country National (HCN) inpatriates who are assigned to work at Multi National Corporation (MNC) operations in the MNC home country. Re-entry training for expatriates and their families also can be beneficial for enhancing adjustment on return from the international assignment. The chapter briefly examines the practices and challenges associated with rapidly increasing forms of short-term international assignments, including working as a "virtual" expatriate with international teams and with global virtual teams, as well as important considerations surrounding frequent travel. It examines measures for enhancing international assignment effectiveness associated with global teams.