Caution! Expatriates Ahead: An Expatriate Satisfaction Study In Indian Information Technology Industry

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to depict the challenges associated with the satisfaction of expatriates and their role in the organizational competitiveness with specific reference to the Information Technology (IT) industry in India. The success of any international assignment depends upon the talent, expertise and skills of the concerned employees, as they have the capabilities of comprehending the requirements of the project and subsequently acting upon such requisites. Organizations must ensure that the right kind of people handle the right kind of assignments resulting in improved organizational performance and thereby serving the overall purpose of availing the services of expatriates. Six hypotheses were stated to study the impact of work-related characteristics and HR practices on expatriate satisfaction. The first four hypotheses were tested using independent‘t’ test and Chi-square test while the fifth and sixth hypotheses were tested using linear regression model. Overall, majority of the respondents were satisfied with their present expatriate assignment. The expatriates were found to be satisfied with the success achieved in the assignment; with the progress made towards meeting career goals in the host country and goals for advancement in the present job.Further, the finding of this study clearly indicate that the right kind of HR practices facilitate the smooth expatriation process, as well as develop a sense of contentment among the expatriates.