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0:00
Hello again, I'm Helene Tenzer,
Professor of
International Management
at LMU Munich School
of Management.
As part of our course on
International Human
Resource Management,
in this segment, we will zoom
in on international assignments.
0:22
What exactly are
international assignments?
Well, imagine a scenario where
a company sends an employee
from their homebase,
let's say France,
to another country,
perhaps China, for
work-related tasks.
This is an international
assignment in action.
While there are various types
of international assignments,
our discussion will
center on expatriates.
This term originates from the
Latin phrase "ex patria",
which means 'outside
one's home country'.
Expatriates are individuals
who are relocated to
a foreign branch of
a multinational company
for a set duration,
commonly ranging from 2-5 years.
For example, consider
L'Oréal assigning
a financial controlling
expert from
their French
headquarters to join
their Shanghai subsidiary
for three years.
1:23
But why do companies
send employees abroad?
Firstly, companies have
specialized roles in
foreign subsidiaries that
local talent can't fill.
Imagine the Aluminum Company
of America requiring
a maintenance engineer with
specific expertise for their
plant in São Luis, Brazil.
With no local talent meeting
the precise criteria,
they have to dispatch
an expert from their
Pittsburgh headquarters.
Secondly, these assignments play
a pivotal role in grooming
managers for future roles.
By immersing them
in global settings,
managers cultivate a deeper
international perspective.
This will be incredibly
helpful once they take over
leadership positions in
foreign subsidiaries
or at headquarters.
Siemens, for instance, views
itself not merely
as a German entity,
but a global powerhouse.
By rotating that
talent globally,
they aim to craft
a management cadre with
a worldwide perspective.
Lastly, international
assignments
foster organizational
development.
They help socialize
both expatriates and
local managers into the
company's overarching culture.
Moreover, these assignments
build strong
communication networks,
creating invaluable
bridges between
subsidiaries and
the headquarters.
As you can see,
international assignments
aren't merely about
filling a role,
they are strategic moves
with multiple
layers of benefits.
