O processo de expatriação e a dimensão familiar
: políticas e práticas organizacionais

  • Rute Isabel Miranda da Costa Silva Pereira (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

The financial crisis that Southern European countries are dwelling with since the past few years has accelerated the need for a bigger internationalization of the companies, which meant the growing of expatriates as a way of taking this strategy forward. This is an advantageous phenomenon for both companies and expatriates, by developing and sharing skills and know-how and the state of art focuses on the analysis of the expatriate and his adjustment to the country that receives him. This study analyses the conception and implementation of the expatriate process, especially on the family dimension, and according to the perspectives of the company and expatriates representatives. For this analysis we used a sample of expatriates, repatriates and those responsible for the expatriation process. The methodology used was qualitative based on semi structured interviews and content analysis through Nvivo software. The results showed the importance and influence of the family dimension for the expatriate in all stages of the expatriation process, as: the challenge acceptance, the balance and support in the family-work relationship, the accompanying for the country of acceptance of the expatriate and how separation is the major difficulty appointed. This shows us the importance of this dimension being included in the conception and implementation of these processes by the companies. The association between expatriation and the companies’ goal to enlarge the market, the preference for an internal recruitment process and the reception and recognition visits as preparation practices of the expatriate are some of the conclusions of this study. Additionally, we also identify as paramount motives for expatriation the family, career opportunities, acquisition of new skills and challenges, and we can observe the consequences of an unsuccessful expatriation process for both the expatriates and companies. Finally, we can understand improvement opportunities for companies when performing future processes of expatriations.
Date of Award22 Jul 2014
Original languagePortuguese
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorLiliana Maria da Silva Cunha (Supervisor) & Eduardo Oliveira (Co-Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Expatriation process
  • Family
  • Family-work relationship
  • Companies'practices

Designation

  • Mestrado em Psicologia

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