Personality Traits as Predictors

Personality Traits as Predictors of Expatriate Effectiveness:

A Synthesis and Reconceptualization
Meredith Downes, Illinois State University
Iris I. Varner, Illinois State University
Luke Musinski, Illinois State University
 Introduction

Expatriation
The practice of sending home country managers to other country
locations.

Expatriates
 jacks-of-all-trades
 generalists
 role of a teacher
 facilitate bidirectional flow of knowledge and resources
 Literature Review

• Earlier, overseas assignment was based on

technical competence .

• And now, a change in focus……

Qualitative information outweigh the
quantitative information!
 The Big 5 Personality Traits

Extroversion
Sociable, gregarious and assertive
Agreeableness
Good natured, cooperative and trusting
Conscientiousness
Responsible, dependable , persistent and organized
Emotional Stability
Calm, self confident, secure under stress
Openness to experience
Curious, imaginative, artistic and sensitive
In selecting global managers, organizations

must seek individuals with a drive to

communicate, broad-based sociability,

cultural flexibility, cosmopolitan orientation, and

a collaboration style of negotiating.

 A three dimensional typology of cross
cultural competencies

• Self-maintenance

• Relationships

• Perceptions
 Stable and Dynamic Traits

Stable Traits: Relatively fixed and may constrain

the potential to develop knowledge or skills
 Abilities and Interests

Dynamic Traits: Can be acquired through training

 Knowledge
 Skills
 Competencies
 Self-maintenance competencies

Dynamic Stable

• Cultural knowledge • Emotional Stability

• Stress management skills

 Relationship Competency

Dynamic Stable

• Conflict resolution strategy • Extraversion

• Agreeableness
 Perceptual Competency

Dynamic Stable

• Questioning skills • Openness

• Conscientiousness
Stable competencies are necessary if
one is to acquire dynamic
competencies, and thus may be more
important for expatriate effectiveness.
 Why stable characteristics facilitate
expatriation?
• Likely to adjust more readily to their
assignments
• Better equipped to detect and respond to
subtle nuances or back stage cultures of their
new environments.
 A new model of expatriate selection
Country Head Overseas Position Technical Manager

DESIRABLE TRAITS Functional Capabilities

Tolerance for ambiguity Technical Expertise
Openness Job/Position Skills
Selection Flexibility Language Proficiency
Criteria Sense of Humor Market Knowledge
Self Confidence History
RED FLAGS (not expat material) Economy
Need to control Front-Stage culture
Overly trusting nature
Impulsivity
Impatience
Result Orientation

Stable Characteristics Dynamic Characteristics

 Comprehensive Model

Individual Assessment Lack of fit Fit for Possible

Assign Assign Selection
Stable characteristics
Personality
Soft Skills
Red Flags Individual Assessment

Candidate Dynamic Characteristics

Recruit Pool Knowledge
Low High Hard Skills
Acquirable Competencies

Eliminate
THANK YOU !

RHODA ALEXANDER
P10148