Due to globalization and vision to be an industrialized nation, Malaysia acknowledges the inflow of expatriates into the country to meet the demands for skilled and professional manpower. This paper reports on a study conducted among a group of expatriates in Malaysia. The objectives of the study are to examine challenges faced by the expatriates and adjustments made to the challenges. Cultural clashes between foreign and local values are inevitable in which expatriates experience challenges. Indepth interviews were conducted with 20 male and female expatriates working in various firms and institutions in Malaysia. The study highlighted the psychological, socio-cultural and work challenges. Adjustments were based on individual initiatives based on the psychological and mental strengths of the expatriates, combined with efforts of peer expatriates, parent firms and host organizations.
Asma, A. (1992). Understanding the Malaysian Workforce: Guidelines for Managers. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Management.
Asma, A. (1996, February 16). Delights, puzzles and irritations of Malaysian culture to foreigners. New Straits Times.
Aycan, Z. (1997). Expatriate adjustment as a multifaceted phenomenon: Individual and organizational level predictors. The International Journal Of Human ResourceManagement, 8 (4); 434-456.
Barto, K. M. and Martin, D.C. (1998). Management (3rd Ed.). Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill.
Bell, M.P. & Harrison, D.A. (1996). Using intra-national diversity for international assignments: A model of bicultural competence and expatriate adjustment. Human Resource Management Review, 6(1), 47-74
Berg, B. L. (1998). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Black, J. S., Mendenhall, M.E. & Oddou, G. (1991). Toward a comprehensive model of international adjustment: An integration of multiple theoretical perspectives. Academy of Managemnet Review, 16(2), 291-317
Caliguiri, P. M., and Cascio, W. F. (1998). Can we send her there? Maximizing women on global assignments. Journal of World Business, 33 (4); 394-416.
Elashmawi, F. (2000, February 19). Cross-cultural negotiation. New Straits Times, 8.
Elashmawi, F., and Harris, P. R. (1993). Multicultural management: New skills for global success. Houston: Gulf Publishing Co.
Fish, A., and Wood, J. (1996). A review of expatriate staffing practices in Australian business enterprises. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 7 (4); 846-865.
Foster, N. (2000). Expatriates and the impact of cross-cultural training. Human Resource Management Journal, 10(3), 68-78.
Giacalone, R.A. & Beard, J.W. (1994). Impression management, diversity and international management. American Behavioral Scientist, 37(5), 621-636
Harrisons, K. (1994). Developing successful expatriate managers: A framework for the structural design and strategic alignment of cross-cultural training progeam. Human Resource Planning, 17(3), 17-35.
Hofstede, G. (1980) Motivation, leadership and organization: Do American theories apply abroad ? Organizational Dynamics, Summer, 42-63.
Hutchings, K. and Ratnasari, S. W. (2006). Cross-cultural non-work transition stress: Domestic transferees in Indonesia. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 13(2), 114-131.
Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 6, No. 3 &4, Fall & Winter 2007 99 Malaysia (1999). Statistical Report Dated from 01/01/1998 to 31/12/1998. Kuala Lumpur: Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Malaysia (2000). Statistical Report Dated from 01/01/1999 to 31/12/1999. Kuala Lumpur: Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Kraimer, M.L., Wayne, S.J. & Jaworski, R.A. (2001). Sources of support and expatriate performance: The mediating role of expatriate adjustment. Personnel Psychology, 54 (1), 71-97
Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Richardson, J. & McKenna, S. (2002). International experience and academic career: What do academics have to say? Personnel Review, 32(6), 774 – 793).
Shephard, P. (1996). Working with Malaysians - expatriates' and Malaysians' perspectives. In Asma Abdullah (Ed.), Understanding the Malaysian Workforce - Guidelines for Managers. pp 144-155. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Management.
Tung, R. L. (1998). American expatriates abroad: From neophytes to cosmopolitans. Journal of World Business, 33 (2); 125-144.
Ward C. and rana-Deuba, A. (2000). Home and host culture influences on sojourner adjustment. International Journal of International Relations, 24, 291-306.
Zakaria, N. (2000). The effects of ceoss-cultural training on the acculturation process of the global workforce. International Journal of Manpower, 219^), 492-510.
Asma, A. (1992). Understanding the Malaysian Workforce: Guidelines for Managers. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Management.
Asma, A. (1996, February 16). Delights, puzzles and irritations of Malaysian culture to foreigners. New Straits Times.
Aycan, Z. (1997). Expatriate adjustment as a multifaceted phenomenon: Individual and organizational level predictors. The International Journal Of Human ResourceManagement, 8 (4); 434-456.
Barto, K. M. and Martin, D.C. (1998). Management (3rd Ed.). Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill.
Bell, M.P. & Harrison, D.A. (1996). Using intra-national diversity for international assignments: A model of bicultural competence and expatriate adjustment. Human Resource Management Review, 6(1), 47-74
Berg, B. L. (1998). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Black, J. S., Mendenhall, M.E. & Oddou, G. (1991). Toward a comprehensive model of international adjustment: An integration of multiple theoretical perspectives. Academy of Managemnet Review, 16(2), 291-317
Caliguiri, P. M., and Cascio, W. F. (1998). Can we send her there? Maximizing women on global assignments. Journal of World Business, 33 (4); 394-416.
Elashmawi, F. (2000, February 19). Cross-cultural negotiation. New Straits Times, 8.
Elashmawi, F., and Harris, P. R. (1993). Multicultural management: New skills for global success. Houston: Gulf Publishing Co.
Fish, A., and Wood, J. (1996). A review of expatriate staffing practices in Australian business enterprises. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 7 (4); 846-865.
Foster, N. (2000). Expatriates and the impact of cross-cultural training. Human Resource Management Journal, 10(3), 68-78.
Giacalone, R.A. & Beard, J.W. (1994). Impression management, diversity and international management. American Behavioral Scientist, 37(5), 621-636
Harrisons, K. (1994). Developing successful expatriate managers: A framework for the structural design and strategic alignment of cross-cultural training progeam. Human Resource Planning, 17(3), 17-35.
Hofstede, G. (1980) Motivation, leadership and organization: Do American theories apply abroad ? Organizational Dynamics, Summer, 42-63.
Hutchings, K. and Ratnasari, S. W. (2006). Cross-cultural non-work transition stress: Domestic transferees in Indonesia. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 13(2), 114-131.
Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 6, No. 3 &4, Fall & Winter 2007 99 Malaysia (1999). Statistical Report Dated from 01/01/1998 to 31/12/1998. Kuala Lumpur: Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Malaysia (2000). Statistical Report Dated from 01/01/1999 to 31/12/1999. Kuala Lumpur: Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Kraimer, M.L., Wayne, S.J. & Jaworski, R.A. (2001). Sources of support and expatriate performance: The mediating role of expatriate adjustment. Personnel Psychology, 54 (1), 71-97
Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Richardson, J. & McKenna, S. (2002). International experience and academic career: What do academics have to say? Personnel Review, 32(6), 774 – 793).
Shephard, P. (1996). Working with Malaysians - expatriates' and Malaysians' perspectives. In Asma Abdullah (Ed.), Understanding the Malaysian Workforce - Guidelines for Managers. pp 144-155. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of Management.
Tung, R. L. (1998). American expatriates abroad: From neophytes to cosmopolitans. Journal of World Business, 33 (2); 125-144.
Ward C. and rana-Deuba, A. (2000). Home and host culture influences on sojourner adjustment. International Journal of International Relations, 24, 291-306.
Zakaria, N. (2000). The effects of ceoss-cultural training on the acculturation process of the global workforce. International Journal of Manpower, 219^), 492-510.
Maimunah Ismail, A. H. M. T. A., & Ismail, M. (2007). Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, 6(3&4), 72-99.
AMA
Maimunah Ismail AHMTA, Ismail M. Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations. Aralık 2007;6(3&4):72-99.
Chicago
Maimunah Ismail, Aida Hafitah Mohd Tahir And, ve Maimunah Ismail. “Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia”. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations 6, sy. 3&4 (Aralık 2007): 72-99.
EndNote
Maimunah Ismail AHMTA, Ismail M (01 Aralık 2007) Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations 6 3&4 72–99.
IEEE
A. H. M. T. A. Maimunah Ismail ve M. Ismail, “Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia”, Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, c. 6, sy. 3 & 4, ss. 72–99, 2007.
ISNAD
Maimunah Ismail, Aida Hafitah Mohd Tahir And - Ismail, Maimunah. “Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia”. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations 6/3 & 4 (Aralık 2007), 72-99.
JAMA
Maimunah Ismail AHMTA, Ismail M. Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations. 2007;6:72–99.
MLA
Maimunah Ismail, Aida Hafitah Mohd Tahir And ve Maimunah Ismail. “Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia”. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, c. 6, sy. 3&4, 2007, ss. 72-99.
Vancouver
Maimunah Ismail AHMTA, Ismail M. Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments of Expatriates: A Case Study in Malaysia. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations. 2007;6(3&4):72-99.