Expatriate manager: Venezuela

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Your plan to go overseas is now well positioned. 

 Research the pros and cons about being an expatriate manager and provide five examples of each.

Becoming an expatriate manager involves many benefits. One can gain experience by being stationed abroad. This is important, as there is increased internationalization and globalization in business. As an expatriate manager one is able to take the corporate culture overseas seas. This is helpful in ensuring tasks are undertaken with the same standards and intention the company is used to domestically. An international assignment is an investment in the employee and they will grow both personally and professionally. An international assignment often gives a manager an opportunity to learn a new language and about other cultures. Finally, an employee chosen as an expatriate manager can transfer the knowledge learned during the assignment in future tasks for the benefit of the organization and his or her career by the wealth of experience the posting will generate.

However, there are cons to being an expatriate manger. Family life can be greatly disrupted by going overseas. One's spouse and children must adjust to a new culture, leaving behind everything and often being thrown into a new situation without knowledge of the culture, language or environment. Some expatriates may be assigned to areas where living conditions are difficult or below the standard, which the employee is accustom to living. The assignment may not be successful due to incomplete planning, or overwhelming cultural issues. The expatriate manager will run a risk of feeling disconnected from their company and a loss of visibility causes them to feel as if they have fallen behind their home country peers. Assimilating in a new country, as well as repatriating into ...