Expatriation

Preparation for expatriation includes a wide range of possible themes, involving aspects such as organizational issues (e.g. accommodation, health, family, finances), issues related to the stages of expatriation (e.g. arrival, ‘culture shock’, acculturation, return), general cultural and country-specific briefing, and individual ‘work-life’ planning for the expatriate and, where required, the expatriate’s spouse/partner.

For such preparatory measures to be successful, it is crucial to be responsive to the expatriate’s questions, expectations, and concerns. Concurrently, participants need theoretical input in order to be able to prepare themselves thoroughly for the country of destination and accompanying life changes.

In order to achieve these objectives, preparation for expatriation has to:

* clarify the challenges associated with expatriation

* trigger curiosity about differences of life abroad

* raise awareness of expected cultural customs and related cultural differences, offering explanations, and

* identify possible prospects for personal development following expatriation.

In addition to these specific objectives, the practice of expatriation is viewed as a measure with high potential for both development of the individual expatriate, as well as organizational development of both head office and subsidiary office.