Intercultural sensitivity of expatriate human resource managers towards training practices in their host countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article investigates the intercultural sensitivity of expatriate human resource (HR) managers, with a specific focus on training practices at an intermediate skill level. The pape, therefore, contributes to the literature on expatriates, with a specific emphasis on the particular relevance of intercultural sensitivity in training in multinational companies. Using a qualitative approach, including expert interviews with German expatriates in subsidiaries in India, China, and Mexico, combined with a deep analysis of the data, we were able to reveal the perceptions of expatriates. Our results show a mixed picture of intercultural sensitivity towards training culture in their host countries through three different types of expatriates’ perceptions. Hence, our results lead to the conclusion that multinational companies might focus on this aspect by putting more emphasis on intercultural sensitivity of their HR managers in foreign subsidiaries, to improve the performance of their subsidiaries long term.