A stakeholder approach to expatriate management: Perceptions of hotel expatriate managers in China

Expatriates are critical to the navigation of an increasingly complex business environment as more hospitality companies operate beyond domestic domains. The present research took a stakeholder approach to examine the expatriate experience. The study posited that cross-cultural issues faced by expatriate managers are contextualized in stakeholder issues and that satisfying multiple stakeholder interests constitutes the ultimate test of expatriate success. In-depth interviews were conducted to examine stakeholder-specific issues and challenges faced by expatriate hotel managers in China. A conceptual framework and related propositions were developed based on an analysis of textual data. The research showed that cross-cultural issues and stakeholder issues are intertwined, but one set of issues can be more salient than the other in a specific manager–stakeholder relationship. Theoretical and managerial implications of the study were also discussed.

Research highlights▶ Cultural issues are embedded and contextualized in the stakeholder issues expatriate mangers face in daily operations. ▶ Expatriate managers’ acculturation to the host environment is strongly influenced by the expatriate managers’ perceptions of stakeholder needs, values and beliefs. ▶ Salience of cultural differences expatriate managers experience in a host country is linked to the level of symbolism in a particular manager-stakeholder relationship.