Why do Korean Expatriate Managers Struggle in the U.S.? Impact of Hierarchy and Gender Perception on Expatriate Effectiveness at Korean Multinational Corporations (KMNCs

Abstract

While individual expatriate adjustment has been extensively studied in the academic literature, little is known about how elements of the social environment influence expatriate effectiveness and performance. This exploratory study contributes to the understanding of expatriate adjustment and cross-cultural literature by exploring how understanding of hierarchy influence expatriate managers’ interaction with local subordinates. Through a series of semi structured, qualitative interviews with Korean male expatriates working at Korean Multinational Corporations (KMNCs) in Silicon Valley, the study presents four key areas in which Korean expatriates face challenges: 1) diverging understanding of authority and corporate risk management, 2) conflicting objectives in team vs. individual performance and evaluations, 3) distinct preferences in communication styles, and 4) multi-layered barriers Korean females face in expatriate assignments. The research highlights aspects particular to Korean expatriation in the U.S. and in doing so provides valuable insights into how KMNCs can better adapt their expatriate and local employee training programs