The new HCN-expatriate context: a multi-source, multi-method investigation of American HCN support for BRICS expatriates

Abstract

With the increasing internationalization of emerging market multinational corporations (EMNCs) especially from the BRICS counties (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South-Africa), the interactions between expatriates from these countries and the ‘new’ host country nationals (i.e. the U.S. American HCNs) is becoming a common organizational phenomenon. To better understand these interactions, in this study, we used two unique sources of data to examine the impact of HCNs willingness to offer support to expatriates. In Study 1, we used scenario-based experimental design with 571 HCNs from the US and examined their willingness to offer support to expatriates from the BRICS countries. In Study 2, 499 expatriates from the BRICS countries working in the US shared their actual experience with HCNs. Results from the two studies confirmed that expatriate humility was strongly associated with HCNs’ willingness to offer social-emotional and instrumental support to expatriates. More specifically, we found that perceived trustworthiness and values similarity acted as the mediating mechanisms. Type of job (financial industry versus educational sector) had no impact on HCNs willingness to offer support, while expatriate country of origin was likely to impact HCN support in the experiment but was shown to have no impact in the actual expatriate experience. We discuss theoretical and practical implications and suggest future research directions.