A study of the causes of expatriate failure at Indra Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
The main purpose of the study was to identify the individual factors, work factors and environmental factors influencing expatriate failure at Indra Ltd. The study employed a quantitative descriptive survey design. A questionnaire containing closed ended questions was either administered either via emails or interviewer administered to the expatriates currently based at headquarters. A total 28 usable questionnaires were received out of the 40 distributed to Kenyan expatriates. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation with the help of statistical computer packages specifically Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS. The mean scores on intention to leave were then correlated with individual factors, work factors and environmental factors. The study found that Kenyan expatriates experienced failures as proxied by intention to leave and that this failure is there irrespective of age, gender and work experience. The study also finds that of the individual factors, satisfaction with quality of life abroad, children, autonomy, and spouse satisfaction were the most influential factors while age, education and spouse adjustments of the expatriates were not. Satisfaction with salary and allowances, satisfaction with opportunities for career advancement and satisfaction with the relationship with supervisor were the most influential work factors and so were participation in decision making and exercising authority on the job in their job autonomy category. Cost of living, standard of living and availability of medical facilities were ranked most influential environmental factors. Although the results also indicate no significant correlation between mean intention to leave scores and mean scores of individual factors, work factors – whether in total or separately in job satisfaction or job autonomy, and environmental factors, the mean scores for job satisfaction was statistically significantly positively correlated with mean scores on environmental factors and so was job autonomy with environmental factors and work factors and environmental factors. These results are not surprising because it is hard to separate work factors and environmental factor. The two are naturally interconnected. Key words: expatriate failure, intent to leave, demographic factors, individual factors, environmental factors, work factors.
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