Scholarly record

IMPROVEMENT OF EXPATRIATE ADAPTATION IN A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY

S. Blumberga, I. Urbanivica

Abstract

Attraction of foreign resources has become more topical for international companies in order to be able to assure good results of their business operations, as there are often situations that the resources and expertise available on the domestic market may appear to be insufficient for the development of the business, and this is a key reason why the studied international information technology company involves foreign personnel. The aim of the study is to investigate the most significant deficiencies in the process of adaptation of expatriates in the international information technology company and to develop recommendations for the improvement of the process of adaptation of the expatriates in the international information technology company. The research questions were the following: What is the process of adaptation of expatriates in the international information technology company? What are the most essential deficiencies in the current process of adaptation of expatriates in the international information technology company? What are the levels of satisfaction of expatriates with the current process of adaptation in the international information technology company? Are there statistically significant differences in that in case expatriates are more motivated to go to live and work in Latvia, then it will be easier for them to adapt themselves in Latvia? Are there statistically significant differences in that expatriates are more informed, because the process of their adaptation will run more successfully? Two surveys created by the authors were used for the collection of data in the study. The key conclusions in the study are: The most significant factors in the screening of expatriates for the international information technology company are adaptation skills, professional stability, willingness to get experience and technical competences, as well as language skills. The expatriates employed by the international information technology company provide generally positive feedback for the adaptation experience in the new environment while living in Latvia. The mathematical statistics of the data show that the more motivated expatriates are, the easier it will be for them to adapt themselves in Latvia, and also that the more informed expatriates are, the easier the process of relocation is.

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