The Expatriate Manager in a University in the United Arab Emirates: The Dynamics of Workplace Diversity

Abstract

Today many managers around the world are making the specific career choice to engage in international mobility. The purpose of this paper is to document and analyse the case of a private higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates, which showcases the trend towards increasing international mobility in management careers in an academic environment. Intense competition in the higher education market and accreditation pressures markets have encouraged many universities to look beyond their nation’s borders for managers. This presents a complex set of academic and managerial challenges. A common response is to employ managers with impressive international track records. That policy has had mixed results. The paper contends that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to the preference for employing managers with an international track record is not always a guarantee of success in an Arab environment, as the study suggests that extensive support needs to be given to expatriate managers. The findings of this study contribute to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural management field as it pertains to self-directed expatriates.