Adjustment to a new culture is a slow and step-wise process, which can be facilitated by cross-cultural training. First, a comprehensive review of current theories about cross-cultural adjustment and different training techniques is presented. Then, the study looks at the preparation and training of expatriates at Ericsson in relation to these theories. In-depth interviews with two Area Managers at Ericsson have been carried out in order to establish how the company’s training program is structured. We found that Ericsson follows a sequential model with both pre-departure and post-arrival training, mainly didactic in nature. The pre-departure training is very culture general, whereas the post-arrival training is more specific for the host culture. The post-arrival training is, however, not offered in all host countries. Language training is also offered, and expatriates are encouraged to visit the host country prior to the departure. Many components in Ericsson’s training program are supported by theory,but several other techniques described in the theory are not in use. A suggestion is made to further formalize the post-arrival training and make the overall training more culture-specific.
Contents
1 NTRODUCTION
1. BACKGROUND
1.2 PROBLE DISCUSSION
2 THEORY
2.1 CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT
2.1.1 THE
U CURVE
2.2 ADJUSTMENT DIMENSIONS
2.3 FACILITATING EFFICIENT ADJUSTMENT
2.4 CROSSCULTURAL TRAINING METHODS
2.4.1 DIDACTIC TRAINING
2.4.2 EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING
2.4.3 ATTRIBUTION TRAINING
2.4.4 LANGUAGE TRAINING
2.4.5 CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING
2.4.6 INTERACTION TRAINING
2.4.7 COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
2.5 SEQUENTIAL TRAINING
2.6 CROSSCULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
2.7 IMPORTANCE OF CROSSCULTURAL TRAINING
3 METHOD
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
3.2 COLLECTION OF DATA
3.2.1 PRIMARY DATA
3.2.2 SECONDARY DATA
3.3 CHOOSING THE RESPONDENTS
3.3.1 CHARLOTTE RUBERTSON
3.3.2 LIESELOTTE CLAYDON
3.4 OPERATIONALIZATION
3.5 ETHICS
4 EMPIRICAL FINDINGS
4.1 ERICSSON’S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
4.2 INTERNATIONAL LONGTERM ASSIGNMENTS
4.3 PREDEPARTURE TRAINING
4.4 POSTARRIVAL TRAINING
4.5 ADDITIONAL
FINDINGS
5 ANALYSIS
5.1 PREDEPARTURE TRAINING
5.2 POSTARRIVAL TRAINING
6 CONCLUSIONS
7 DISCUSSION
8 REFERENCES
APPENDIX – CHECKLIST FOR THE INDUCTION PROGRAM
Author: Osterdahl, Gabriel, Hanberg, Christian
Source: Uppsala University Library
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