Understanding the Adjustment of Chinese Business Expatriates: A Grounded Theory Study

The number of Chinese expatriates has vastly expanded with an increase of 240% to more than 1.4 million during the last decade (MOFCOM, 2021; 2010). However, little attention has been paid to them and their adjustment experiences in academic circle. Currently, the majority of research of expatriate adjustment is western-specific, and almost all theories and models in this field are developed from western perspective and naturally lack a consideration of non-western situational factors. This research focuses on the adjustment of Chinese business expatriates and aims to explore the factors influencing their adjustment and develop a framework of adjustment thus to help better understand and guide the practice of Chinese expatriates. The research adopts grounded theory research and attempts to contribute to the body of knowledge on adjustment of Chinese expatriates and construct an explanatory theory that reveals the inherent process of expatriation. The findings identify four major themes influencing the adjustment of Chinese business expatriates: expatriation reasons, expatriation difficulties, supporting resources and adjustment strategies. On that basis, this research develops a framework of adjustment of Chinese business expatriates, which reflects the influence of Chinese context and represents a new perspective of describing the adjustment process of them. As grounded in the practice of Chinese business expatriates, this research makes significant theoretical and practical contributions to the field. As an innovation and redevelopment of existing cross-cultural adjustment research, it describes and explains the expatriation practice and adjustment of Chinese business expatriates. It also serves as a reference for human resource managers and expatriates and guides them on how to recognise and cope with the issue of expatriate adjustment. Some suggestions have been put forward for relevant organisations to improve expatriates’ adjustment according to the research findings.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

dba

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Hong, Jiajun

• H Gwyddorau Cymdeithasol (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3199