The Role Of Realistic Job Previews And Expectation Lowering Procedures For Expatriate Managers

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to integrate research from the fields of economics, management and consumer satisfaction in an attempt to better understand the nature of expectations and the process of their formation in realistic job previews (RJP) and expectations lowering procedures (ELP) methods of influencing the development of realistic expectations about a position and an organization. The approach to the paper development is to initially review the research regarding met expectations and expectation formation, while later to introduce Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and relate it to both RJP and ELP. Borrowing from the aforementioned diverse areas, a model is developed containing a continuum of expectations, disconfirmation, satisfaction and turnover intention that provides some insight, from a theoretical perspective, why RJP and ELP frequently result in successful and positive organizational outcomes. “We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.” (Titus Livius)