Repatriation and short-term assignments: an exploration into expectations, change and dilemmas

Abstract

The aim of this research was to use in-depth interviews and discourse analysis to explore talk about repatriation expectations by 22 participants who were currently on, or had recently completed a short-term assignment within a single MNC. This study is one of the first to focus specifically on repatriation connected to short-term assignments and present findings that stem solely from the expatriates' perspective. Through discourse analysis, this paper outlines a framework with which to understand the relevance and meaning of individual change associated with career-based expectations of repatriation. For some of the participants, expectations of short-term assignment repatriation meant a desired change in work based on perceptions of themselves as changed as a result of their experience. For others, expectations of consistency as opposed to change between pre-and post-assignment work roles emerged through discourses of resistance. These findings raise a number of distinctively novel HR challenges.

Keywords:

• career
• change and identity
• discourse analysis
• repatriation
• short-term assignment

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Professor Graeme Currie for his support and feedback, and also extend thanks to the anonymous reviewer for constructive comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Notes

1. Transcription notation:

• (.) A dot between parentheses indicates a slight pause of about a second and more dots indicate longer pauses e.g. (…) about 3 seconds

•  = Equal sign indicates no interval or pause between the talk of two people

• - A hyphen indicates a change or quick re-wording to what is being said

• ( ) Single parentheses indicate verbal behaviour, vocalisations e.g. cough, laughter