ONLY BLOCK B QUESTIONS

THIS IS FOR THE COURSE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PLEASE ANSWER THEM CAREFULLY. THANK YOU!

JUST ANOTHER MOVE TO CHINA? THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS ON EXPATRIATE FAMILIES By Yvonne Kallane Lisa MacDoungll locked at her desk calender and realized it was the tirst-year anniversary of her employment at John Campbet Colloge. "How ironic," ahe thought, "that I might resign today oxactly one your aftor I thartod hore." As her colsosgues drcepped by her office trvoughout the moming to ditcuse a now resparch propoct that she was loading. Lisa foll both efafod ard sad, She was excited to be embarking en a new chapter in her caroer but upset to be leaving behind her first sulf-time job in nearly a decade. To oase her mend, stie fock a moming break at the campus cafetera and crobered a kitte. Then ther celphorse beenped to alert an incoming? giesisage from her husband. Lachlan. As she nenvously picked up the phore and read the four-word message - "it's done, go ahease" - she realized in that instant that thece was no going back now; Lachlan had fust signed a tworyear contract with tis employes to move their famly to China, and it was happening in six wooks' tiryo. Taking a deep breath as she walked back to her office, the first task was to write a resignation letter, after which Liso emailod her boss to request an immediate meeting to toll him the was leaving. Although he took the news in biststride. Lise know her boes was upeot to bo koeing her after only a vear. The colopo was bulding up its rosearch agonds and Lisa. along with a couple of other earty career researctworts. had boen empleyod as an integral past of that plan. Usa knew that hor loawing would likely dianupt thooo plans a little bet, she remindod herself, t ther bose had ever really understocd what rado her tick, he perthaps. covid have seven it coming. Although they tad beon roughly six months. plavinang to move to China, the decision to go had not been an easy one to make for the MacDougals: This surprised Lachion and Lisk, ghen that thoy were seasonud expatriates who had moved internationaly. as a mavried couple, at loast fwice biflore - firet, from Sydney to Chicago and then Phiadoiphia, and six yoars later a socond international move to Singapore, thear curvent horme. After 12 straght youm "os the Foad and axccessful internotiond moves on two continente under their bolt, the arsicipation of another move - to China, no lass - seerred simple enough, and in many ways it whs. Good for Lachlan's caroor? Check-yes. Good for their two young daughters? Check - yes. A wondertul, porhaps afe-changing cultural experience for the whole family? Chock - defanitely, yos. Yot in many ways this move was anything bet simple; there were se many issues to consider, and so many important decisions to be made that would likely impact their fanily for years to corna, i not for the rest of their thins: Foremost in List's mind was whother she cocid work in Chira. The mese thought of being a stay. at-home 'trailing spouse' again was out of the question. Another concern was going back to the transience of kwing in rented housing again; needing permision from a landiord to put up a picture or paint the walls would be hard to get used to atter having lived in their own hogse in Singapore for the past four years. Then there was the chidiren's education and the change to a new school. This worild be the MacDougals" first international move with echool-aged childron and Litsa had no idea whother international schools in Chine offered the types of music and sports programs her children enjoyed. As stro mulled over the China decision, Lisa also fellected on what had drawn their family into the exaxatriote lfe to begin with. Doing so, she hoped, inight holp ber to understend how tsoir past might now be drawing them to is new adventure in Shanghai. All expatriate joumeys start scmewhere, and some even in childhood To many of ther friends, Lachlan and Lisa seorred to be made for each other. That they marriod quite scon after they mot, and vory soon after that left on their frst internatonal assigretient to Cricago, came as no sirprise to anyone. Liba was born and raised in Melbourne as the daughter of European migrants ard, after an eight-year commission in the Royal Australan Navy, liviny and wobing on navat establishments all over Australis, she settled in Sydroy at the ege of 28 to pursue a cavoer in managemert consuling. She met Lachlan on a ratter ordinary Suturday morning at a cafe in Mosman, when he politely asked if ho could borrow the international Hendid Tribune when she was done reading it. Lachinen was ret bern in Australias he ceme to Sychey somb seven years earler as a UK backpocker on a three-month holiday that furned into a yearlong sojcurn, then permanent residency and finally oflaonship. Boen and misod mosty in Scolland as the eldest son of a second-generasion property devepoper. Lachlan was an architoct by trado, with a bachelor's dogree and an MBA from Herot -Watt Univernity. He had had an inferesting chitholod, having moved house (and school) a dozen or more times around scotland and ireland as his tativer bought and sold various properties to expand the family business. Avthough his tather had hoped he would take over the business one day, Lachlan had other idass. When exactly does a global career begin? Their frst move to Chicago was a corrcletely out-ofthe btuo opportunity but one that Lisa and Lachlan accepted immedately and wathout hesitation. They were newly married. had no family ties in Sydney and shaved a mutual jove of travol. Lactilan had changed careers a year earfer into the It incustry and now worked for a targe US technology cempany with offices around the giobe. Although the Chicago job was on local terms - no 'expet package' - the compary was willing to poy rolocation expenses, and US sataries were much higher than those in Australla. With an expenswe mortgage and locking to kick-start a second careec, Lachlan kremw the coportunily was tow good to pass up. Lies needert no comincing moving to the US was the fulsilment of a life-kng ambition to live and work overseas and she did not really care where that was. So, they tented out theit house and waved goccteye to friends with the promise to "be back in iwo years". It did not take long once in Chicago for the MacDoigats to rontise that the 'Two-yoar plan' was not going to hoppon. Lachlan was an instart success in his now role, while Lias relighed her newtound status as 'traifing apouso'. Dodpite the fact that Liso Whas not permitted to work in the US (they fad not known - nor thought to ask - about tho owalablity of work permits for accompanying partners when loving the freedom to explore a new city without the constraints of a bus, alf-consuming and demansing job. They ifid not need her salary anyway; Lachlan's career was flourshing. so much so that within 18 monthe of arring in Chicago tea was promoted into a regonal US role and offered the opportunity to move to Phiadelphie. They gacly accepted the move even though, again, it wes on focal ferms with crity rebcation expenses pard by the corryary. By the time they arrwed in Priladelphis, Liss krew that sonwthing had changed for her and Lachlan. Their expected return to Sydney in a few months' time Wis no longer someting they taked about, trastend of renting arvapartmend they bougit a house on the 'main line' in leaty, midde-cirss Montpomery County abous 30 minules drive from downtown Philly. Thay replaced their IKEA houschold goods with more expensive. longer-lasting piecers of furnture, bought no cass and adopted a dog. Rther than seok out an expatrate community, thoy joined Bryn Mawr Country Club Where they mode musy American frends and became active in goll and salling. Because Lachlan's salary wiss on local termts, they lived and acted the locals and inenersed themselves in the local communty weth a rnindset that they were there to stay'. Of courpe, that would nover be the case, given that their HIB visa testricted them to a maximum of siox years' residency in the US. Eut they had another four and a hat yaars uneil the visa expired, and thoy intended to stay in Priladelohat until the very hast morth. Their move to Asia four years later was, of course, necebsary as then US vesa was about to expire with no opportunity to renew. By now the MacDougals had an 11-month-old daughter, Amelia, who had been bom in Philadolphia. Leaving the US was hard tor Lisa; ther tarriy rad put down so meny roons over the past six years and made so mary American friends, and antiough they did have the epportunity to apply ter a green card which could provide permanent residency. to the surprise of their triends the MocDougalis rojoctod this option in favor of another international move. They chose Asta because it would be gocd for both their careers and yet stai close enough to Austraita to mantain tamily and profossonal les wihout having to repatrlate. Lachian approached hos company aboul an ndernal tranglor and socured a new role in Singncore. Singapore had been evorything Lachlan and Lisa had hoped for, and they had lived there - again, on a locel packuge - much like they had tred in thet US. they bought a condo, securod permarient residency. sent their daughter to a focal pre-school, hred a maid and joined a local sailing club, Work pormits for spouses were ostsy to get in Singapore, to Lisa had been able to secure part-time employment. Because he frad permanent fesident atatus, Lactian had been able to change ernplogers three years ater moving thete and was now a tegional expert in his fiold, being rccitinely approachod by headtwnters. trying to poach him to accept other job otfers. The expatriate community was very welt testastahed, so the MacDougals enjoycd a thriving social lifo. And it was heve, in Singupore, that treir second dauphter, Emily, was born. Now a third move to Chira was looming, and as Usa reflected on their oxpatriate 80 so tar, she knew that this move, more than any before, was a game charkeer - for her, for Lechlan ars, most importantily, for their fanly. They did not have to leave Singapore, they were permanent residents and they owned their own horne, so they could stay as long as they wishod and life there was very good. 14 became abundartly cleas that moving to China was a choice unlike any othor they had had before. Lachtan's employor had askind him to consider a transtor to Shanghai - on a local-plus packago no less, with housing and schooling - but it he did not wish to go the company. maintained there would be no reperouseigne, as ho was thoir most nenior Asia executive and they did not want to lose tam. China was, nonetheless, a key strategic markat for the company and Lactilan was. by al accounts, porfect for the job. Lisa considered that her husband's career would undeclotedly fourtsh If they went to Crina, but ste was struck by the fact that, his career aside, there was no other compeling reason to leave Singepore, With this in aind, she lenew that it they were to move again, t would need to beneft ewerycese in the farsily and not ust one person. Being a dual-career trailing spouse is harder than you think In the months feading up to the China ducition, Lise spent a lot of time refiecting on her traling spouse journey, tryng to ploce togother what it at meant and what it could mean in a new clity like Stanghai, She knew now that without a doubt she was, and probsbly parsicn whose job would not take them to their roxt destination, and whose caroer would require moro compromises than Lachlan would noed to molie in his. Afer all, he was now a Regiond Vice Predsunt for a senali and modum serod enterprises (SME) fochnology firm in Singapore and earning more monery than she could ever hopo to oven as a teoured protessor, and that was of with both of them; his cereer supported their Sfestyla, and stie supported their growing farnily She was suprised that her traling spouso status did nct soem to bother her anymore, Whereas even a year earler it had boon as she couid think about. Lisa had not worked fullitime for ower a decade since marrying Lachlan and moving to Chicago. The first six years they had spent in the US had beon challenging. Chicago had been easy, alrodst like a long holdsty, but that had changad ence they moved to Philadelphia and comrnitled to strying in the US for the full duration of their visa. The career she had put 'on hold' back in Syciney, with the intention that she would return to it in a couple of years, was now a thing of the past. With no prospects to legally work in Phily, a husband trequantly away on regians business trips and a warng interest in charity work (Which she stereotyped an something 'ald lades' (id). Gisa found herself inoreasingly frustrated and cenctrained by a traling spouse ife that she had once to willingly embracod, She was bored. Lito seomed dult, meaningless and oppressive - and stie had not yot reached the age of 35 ? Without a business card and a joo tibe, ahe felt irwesita at the many functions she attended as 'Lachlan's wite'. Instinctively she knew that ther decision to mowe to Philadifptia fad iofiulted in a makor loss of her identhy mush of which was row inpessulble for ther to contine. She had two choices - commit to a the of resigned acceptarice as 'Mrs Nobody' unti they repatriated, or do scmething about it. Like many trailng spouses often do. Lisa resclved her bosedom by turning a negative stuation into a kferaifuming ochivvirsent: she went back to school and obtained a doctorate. On the achice of her doctoral supervisor. she chose a field of research she knew something about - expotriates. As it turned out. Lisa loved research and was qute good at it. Being an 'insider' to the expatriate community had mamy advantapes - invitabions to speak at intemational for industry periodicals, and the chance to start a global moblity webste. Slowy, year by year, as her rosearch prooressed and her expatriate journey continued, Lita bult a new caroer for hortolt and, at she would socen dscovor, a relatively portablo one at that It was telling that whon the move to Singapore arose she was the ene pusting them to 90 , father than repatriating to Sydney as Lachian had thought they wocid do. As a 'globil moblely academic', she percewed there would be few tegathes - personilly or protessionely - it they undertook another international assigncment, and she had been right: in Singapore she had oasy access to a work permit and $0 was sble to do part-tirne consuking for rnajor corporations as well as adjunct teaching. When she graduated with ther PrD. Liea took a terice-track position at John Campbel Coliege with the intention that she would spend between three and five yoars there betore considering a mowo elsewtere. it had boen important that she re enter the full-time workforce, not only protessionally but asso for her seif-esteem and confichence, Shet tolt a deep obliganion to financially contribute to the farrby again, to mogain some balance and eauality in her marriage, and to be a strong role model as a working mother for her two young daughters. Like mary traling spoused before hor, Lita believed that the longer ste remairted a "nupportivo non working wifo', the harder it would be for her to have a 'voici' in major tamly deciaions whare financlal contiderations would be an overrifiry ocencom. Now al her thoughts turned to Shanghai. It seemed quice remarkable that in fittie mote than a decade bots she and t.achlan had somehow furned their "expeatriate actventure' inte thriring gloteal careers and they wore not done yet. She aready had two jots otfers to congider at local urwersities in Chana, having interviewed with institutions when the farny had gone on their familarizalion trip a couplo of movits ffarlier, but these were predominantly feaching jobs much like the one at John Carrpbell had turned out to be. Getting a spouse work permit in China would be restively simplo, so sthe found out, but her pataion was research and, if she was to stand ary charice of buiding an academic careor, she netoded to be in a job that allowed her to putash in good journals. As a foreipner in China with only Thobby' Manderin to get her by, how quelidy oculd she establish a new retwork of contacits bo find such a job? And what empibyment stereotypes and baniers would she face as an 'expat wite'? Athough anothige international mowe woxild certairly deepen Lisa's mobilty knowledgo and experionce, moving to Chira was a cavoer ritak - and one that aho was not sure stw nouclod to tabe. Raising 'third-culture kids' The chidren were also a major source of concern to Lisa. Their daughtors, Amelie and Emb/, were now six and soven yoas of ago and haxd boon bom oversoas. Atthough they had dual citigenstyp /Australian and Britsh). the girls had newer realy known a home other than Singogore and had been attendirig 'seal' school there for nearly two years. In foct, it had taken nearly two years on a wait ligt to got the girls inso their schoor - the United World Coltepe of South Elest Asie (UNCSEA) - given at was the best international school in the rogion, As parents, Lastand Lactisn were dirwn to UWC because it was well known for striking a bolance between a "privileged childhood' and a focus cen service to the global community. UWC also oaid spocial attention to the neods and interests of "third. culture kids'. (TCKsi). Although Lian did not corkider herseit a school 'snob', the rentid was that there was onfy one UMC in Asta, and it was not in Shanghai, Given her doep thecretical knowlodge about TCKe. aleng with the fact that she and Lachian were rationg two of thoir own, Lisa knew that Simpapore meant a lot to her children and that they had incorporated its culture into their everyday lide and sentag of who they wete. But Amela and Emiry had simultanecusty with which they identifled - whare they wore born, where thoir extended tambios lved and they frequonty vacationed, where Mom and Dad came trom - and they did not rowly have tut ownership in amy, in roality. their oemse of belonging was mostly in relation to others of an expenenoe similar to theirs - Mom and Dad, each other, school trienda, teachers - a special knyd of 'in-group', Whes this a good r a bad thing? Ametia and Emaly were constructing and reconstructing their identities during the formative 'tragle' years of their childhood and at the same time across various foreign cultures. Lisa recognaed that ' horre' for fer children would likely be an emotiona: plase that couldn't bo found on a map, and that the quostion Where am I from? would rocure a tesponse from an alfas not an anatomy buoki Sthe atso recopnized that children do not move by chcece and they are not trained for if; they experienoe the same losses as adies but very often cannot arficidute theis feeings. Having been a listoning ow to a number of expatriate friends ovor the vears whose own chiden had exporiencod unronolved issives of grint rosieting from the rolentesisnoss of trequent goodbyes. Lisa was kesorly awars that he girle would sholy have sintay experiences, and it was a distrosting thought. Whs it far to impoce these torts of strossore on hor childron and at such a young ape? What long-lasting impact would it have on their emotionat and psychological welbeing as they moved into aldethood? On the odher harxd. Arrela and Emity seemed to possess incre than a textbock understanding of globel culture; they were ling it every day. With frequent internstiond trave, sccess to foreign tangukges and exposure to transition and change, they had a rare opportunty to see the world in a way that was closed to moat poople thoir ager. Lisa was proud that her chldren integrated well in their community, but she knew that they would nover fully penetrate the locel culture becaute a would never be their 'passport country'. She also know that her children wore lakely developing a deep sense of rootheseness and posstoly a migratory instinet that wesid be exaxerbated by asch and every subsocuant international move. Thetse were not negatives par se. as Lachlan hod grown up much the same in Scotiand and lreland, and it could woll be that, in these formative veari, Lachian and Lilla wore alreacly sotting up thoir chldien for their own globol caroors, which by all accounts they percoived to be a posithe outeome. Sill did they have the right to be making docisione for thoir chidren that could impact their adult twos in ouch tunimaginable ways? Would their chldrens lives bo botter if the tamily lived in one noighborhood, in one city, close to their relatives and biends; and newer inoved? Yes, money does actually matter Lisals tast remaining concern about moving to China centered on their firancial situation. The relocation package offered to Lachlan included a hossing allowance, school texs and tax equitization bonefits as patt of a 'local-plus' arragpernent. For all intents and purposes the compensation package for the Crins move was attractive, given that for the past 12 terms, with no additicriat benetits. Tax equalizstion was especialy beneficial given that Chingls income tax rate was approximately 50 per cent, comparod to 20 per cont in Singapores for this reason Lachlan had nominated Singapore as his home country and purposely ratained his and Lisa's Singaparo permanent rosictency (PF) status. But, in dorip so. the MacDougalla socon discowered that departing Singapore ass PAs was a more complicated procoss than they had anticipated. Becauts they woro non-citiens of Singapore, the MacDougalis would be required, by law, to settie theer tax bal with the Singapore governinart in advance of their samponiry two-yoar absence, inctuding taxable income on stocks and shares offered ad part of Lachlaris poryfor-porfornarce salary scheme that would be accriod over the ertsung two years. This included exsing as wed as anticipated stocks and sheres. Athough the technical detals of Singapore's tax laws were compleased and for the most part beyond List's basic understanding. tha final outcome for the MacDougale was that their tax bil proor to departure was significantly large, tawng ireo accourt both thet taxable earnings. Additionally Snpaporet law dictated that Lachian's existing and anticipated compony shares and stocks would noed to be frocen during their two-year absence 6.0 . they could not sels them in order to mitgate any finarcial windfail he might otherwise accrue. In theory it sounded reasonable enough, but the realify was that the MacDougalls could emerge from their China assignment in two years time with shares worth only haf the value. without any opportinty to stem the loss by soling them, As a senior vice president, Lactian's share posttolig was substantial; about 20 per cent of the MacDougals' overall net worth consisted of compary shares. Given the ongoing economic crises in Europe and the US, and their imponding retirement in 15 years tirre, Lisa was not sure it was worth the frivincial risk to lock in their compary share porffolio at the existing strare price and to possibly sutfer a loss from which is could be difficult to recover. Coming full circle to embrace Shanghai As Lisa drove home from John Campbell Callege having resigned from her job earler that day. she turned on the car radio and tstened to a BEC Wortd Service program in which walitknown author and publisher Robin Pasooe was being intervewed about her newly reteased book on "Gicbel Nomads', As Ms Pascoe tecsled her lite as a forcign service spouse, raising two chldren in four Asian wountries during the 1980 s and 1990 s. and spolve of the many times she had reirmented her career as a jounsilst, author, public speaker and now puclisher, Lisa was struck by how common global carvers had bocome - and for women, no less. Although ste herselt had at times felt somewhat alone in her own journey as a trailng spouse, Lisa nonetheless knew that international mobility was inervitable for many enployees as talont inainopement became critical for multirational firns. She and Lachlan were no exception to this phenomenone they may not have intontionaly set out to pursue gicbal carteors a decade earlier, but once they had artived on the international labor matket it made serse that they remain tivere. They had beneffitod immensely by doing so, despite the many personal and protessiond terdes she had overcome, and even though repatriation to Austrakia had been an ongoing takeng point lex years over the dinner table. somethow it pat news seerned to tactor into any of ther plars. Lisa now clearty saw for the first time that mowing to. Chirea signabd an important change in their farnily dyramic: the MacDougals had acquired the relatively tare skill of 'farrily mobility' and she instinctively knew that if wes a skillset likoly to be highly sought after by many global cormpanies. Their "united nations" global family was, in reality, a valuable commodity. Although she had always had the coportunify to return to a felatively comfortable and stable 'north shore bise' in Sydney had she wanted to. Lisa had never renty senousty considered it an opton; instead. she knew now that she and Lachlan wousd peotably pursue global cavoers in one form of another for the rest of their lives, as would their chadren. As M5. Pascoe continued to tell her story on the radio, Lisa began to stawly lot go of her fears, arid to once and for al embrace the Shanghar opporturity. And then sthe began to wonder,.., rotaining their Singapore permanent residency status might not have teen necessary after all, given that there were so many other cities they could mowe to when the Shanjhal assignment was complote. Questions: Block A: HRM supporting international mobility 1 In gonoral, whut HA actwitips are important whon it corres to manoging intemasional assigrmente? Draw on exarples from the case itudy to illuatrate your anewers veler to Chaptor 5 . 2 As evidenced in the case sfudy, expatriate compersiaton tahes many forms. To what extert have the MacDougals benetited from the types of compensation offorod to them across their virious moves? Hawe there been amy negative effects frefer to Chapter 9i? 3 Thinking about the MacDougal family: How can HR tacilitato their movo from Singapore to Crina and their adjustment to the new eriviormend? What is spocial about them as a dual-cyoer couple with two children frefer to Chapter 5)? 4 How is the incrobsed complexty of international HR verses domestoc Hit in the case of the MacDougal famity erdient frelar to Chapler 1 )? Block B: IHRM supporting families in intemational mobility (refer to Chapter 5) 1 Thinking about possble sevoction critera and requirements for intemstional assignees, in what Wryss do Lachlan and the MacOougnil family represont rare and vatubio nesources to a Dowling, et al., 2023 text thet never seemed to tactoc irto any of their plans. Lisa now ckearty sew for the first time that moving to China signaled an important change in theif tamily dyrarric; the MocDougals had asquited the relatively rare skill of 'farrily mobility' and sine nstinctively knew that if was a skoliset likely to be highly sought atter by mary global corrpanits. Their 'united nations' giobal family was, in reaify, a valuablo cornmodify. Athougts she had always had the cpportunity to Block B: IHPM supporting families in intemational mobility (refer to Chapter 5) 1 Thinkeng abouk possible selection crtera and repuinements for intemational atesignees, in what Wings do Lachtan and the MacDougall farrily repmenent rare and witabb inecurces to a Ne_ 341.418 inst 364 36 inktinationd firm? How and to what extort is this Aso linked to the probatility of expatnate succese? joumey, how would you have approacled the stuation different y ? What assistarioe could a multinstiond firm offer to sompone the Liea? How could that have irrpacted the MacOougall farsily situation and Lactian's careen? 3 Taking Ampla and timidy as an examplo, what problorms and bonedits do you see for childrent of expatratos? What could the MNE do to attermato the regative sides of international ancbility for the two children? What else could the positive and negative effects of internations mobility depand on? FURTHER READING Expatriate farrily namatives on intornabional moblely. neerfice in the internatonar carcer concett ipp 29-51 Heodeterg. Germary. Sprnpec. erpericar stady of organinational suegort lor the traling 1974),417434. elinge how we think about global twient maregestert. Pingley, UK. finerald. MCNisty Y, s Mooler, M, 2018), A sppology of dad-career caners: feploring the dise of niterational work top: 25?-200) Eaningtole, UK: Paigrave Masmitin (Ed). Acutodge companion to thent martagowont (pe. 3a1-344) London, UK: Foutiodip