Australian expatriates in Thailand: some insights for expatriate management policies

• Published in: International journal of human resource management 2002-06, Vol.13 (4), p.598-623
• Main Authors: Clegg, Brett, Gray, Sidney J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Australia; Australian Expatriates; Business; Business management; Business studies; Expatriate Management; Foreign workers; Foreigners; Human capital; Human resources; Knowledge; Skills; Thailand
• ISSN: 0958-5192; 1466-4399
• DOI: 10.1080/09585190110092802

Expatriates are critical to the navigation of an increasingly complex international business world and, as such, the demand for their skills, knowledge and experience, as well as their supply, needs to be better understood. Furthermore, the role of human resource policies is of key concern in ensuring the right people are chosen to represent companies in overseas locations, as is the provision of pertinent support policies, such as preparation for overseas assignments and cross-cultural training. The purpose of this research is to examine these issues with the focus on Australian expatriates in Thailand. A questionnaire survey was conducted of members of the Australian-Thai Business Council in Thailand, an association representing Australian expatriates, in 1999. The findings provide some insights for expatriate management policy, including the notable conclusions that the market for expatriates is changing and becoming more demanding and that the imperatives of the emerging global market for human capital require a much more structured approach to expatriate management development.