Expatriates' boundary-spanning: double-edged effects in multinational enterprises

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Liu, Ting; Sekiguchi, Tomoki; Qin, Jiayin; Shen, Ya Xi
• 署名单位: Kyoto University; Kyoto University; Hunan University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/s41267-024-00690-x
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 260-272
• 关键词: Expatriates; Boundary-spanning; MNEs; Social capital theory; Role theory

摘要

Expatriates typically perform boundary-spanning to address challenges related to functional, linguistic, and cultural variations within multinational enterprises (MNEs), which in turn influences their relationships with host-country employees. Integrating social capital and role theory perspectives, this study explores the relational dynamics between expatriates and host-country employees by developing a novel theoretical framework that examines the double-edged effects of expatriates' boundary-spanning. We propose that expatriates' boundary-spanning nurtures mutual trust between expatriates and host-country employees, further facilitating expatriates' identification with subsidiaries and host-country employees' identification with MNEs. On the other hand, we propose that boundary-spanning increases expatriates' role stressors, causing expatriates' emotional exhaustion and outgroup categorization by host-country employees. We further categorize expatriates' boundary-spanning into three types (functional, linguistic, and cultural) and theorize about their varying effects on the cognitive and affective bases of mutual trust and on role stressors. With data from 177 expatriate-host-country coworker dyads in Chinese MNEs, our double-edged framework is generally supported. Our findings suggest that cultural boundary-spanning exhibits the strongest double-edged effect, while functional boundary-spanning shows asymmetric effects, with negative outcomes surpassing positive ones, and linguistic boundary-spanning demonstrates the weakest effect. This study offers realistic and comprehensive insights into expatriates' boundary-spanning, particularly in expatriate-host-country employee relationships. In the field of global business, firms often dispatch workers overseas to their foreign branches. These workers, referred to as expatriates (employees living and working outside their home country), are vital in connecting the main office and the foreign branch. They accomplish this through boundary-spanning activities (actions that involve communication and coordination across diverse cultures and organizational practices). While earlier studies have highlighted the positive aspects of boundary-spanning, such as creating social networks and knowledge transfer, there is a lack of understanding about potential negatives, like stress and burnout. This research aims to investigate both the positive and negative impacts of expatriates' boundary-spanning on their relationships with local employees.The study used three datasets collected in 2022. The initial two datasets were utilized to create a scale to measure boundary-spanning, while the third dataset was the primary focus, comprising 177 pairs of expatriates and local coworkers from the energy engineering sector in various Asian countries. The research employed a combination of questionnaires and online surveys to collect data on the expatriates' boundary-spanning activities and their effects on trust, stress, and workplace relationships.The research discovered that boundary-spanning can indeed cultivate trust and a sense of belonging among expatriates and local employees, which is beneficial for the firm. However, it also unveiled that expatriates who participate in boundary-spanning activities might experience role stress, leading to emotional exhaustion and potentially being perceived as outsiders by local staff. The study suggests that while boundary-spanning can build valuable social capital (networks of relationships among people), it also carries risks that need to be managed.In conclusion, the study offers a more balanced perspective of expatriates' boundary-spanning by emphasizing both its benefits and challenges. It proposes that firms should support expatriates in their boundary-spanning roles by providing clear job responsibilities and resources to manage stress. The findings have implications for multinational firms aiming to enhance their international operations and for expatriates striving to succeed in their overseas assignments. The potential impact of this research is significant, as it can assist firms in better preparing and supporting their expatriate employees, leading to more effective international collaboration and knowledge sharing.This text was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then reviewed by the author(s) to ensure accuracy. Les expatries effectuent generalement le depassement de frontieres (Boundary-spanning) afin de relever les defis lies aux variations fonctionnelles, linguistiques et culturelles au sein des entreprises multinationales (Multinational Enterprises - MNEs), ce qui influence a son tour leurs relations avec les employes du pays d'accueil. Integrant la perspective du capital social et la theorie des roles, cette recherche explore la dynamique relationnelle entre les expatries et les employes du pays d'accueil en developpant un nouveau cadre theorique qui examine les effets a double tranchant du depassement de frontieres des expatries. Nous proposons que le depassement de frontieres des expatries nourrisse la confiance mutuelle entre les expatries et les employes du pays d'accueil, facilitant ainsi l'identification des expatries aux filiales et celle des employes du pays d'accueil aux MNEs. D'autre part, nous proposons que le depassement des frontieres augmente les facteurs de stress lies aux roles des expatries, provoquant un epuisement emotionnel des expatries et une categorisation hors groupe par les employes du pays d'accueil. Nous categorisons en outre le depassement de frontieres des expatries en trois types (fonctionnel, linguistique et culturel), et theorisons leurs impacts variables sur les bases cognitives et affectives de la confiance mutuelle et sur les facteurs de stress lies aux roles des expatries. Les donnees recueillies aupres de 177 dyades d'expatries et de collaborateurs du pays d'accueil dans des MNEs chinoises confirment globalement notre cadre theorique a double tranchant. Nos resultats suggerent que le depassement de frontieres culturelles presente l'impact a double tranchant le plus fort, tandis que le depassement de frontieres fonctionnelles presente les impacts asymetriques, avec les effets negatifs depassant les positifs, et que le depassement de frontieres linguistiques demontre l'impact le plus faible. Cette recherche offre une comprehension realiste et complete sur le depassement de frontieres des expatries, plus particulierement sur les relations entre ces derniers et les employes du pays d'accueil. Los expatriados suelen realizar ampliacion de fronteras para abordar los retos relacionados con variaciones funcionales, linguisticas y culturales en las empresas multinacionales (EMN), esta ampliacion a su vez influencia sus relaciones con empleados del pais anfitrion. Integrando las perspectivas del capital social y la teoria de los roles, este estudio explora la dinamica relacional entre los expatriados y los empleados del pais anfitrion mediante el desarrollo de un novedoso marco teorico que examina los efectos de doble filo de la ampliacion de fronteras (boundary-spanning en ingles) de los expatriados. Proponemos que la ampliacion de fronteras de los expatriados fomenta la confianza mutua entre los expatriados y los empleados del pais anfitrion, facilitando aun mas la identificacion de los expatriados con las filiales y la identificacion de los empleados del pais anfitrion con las multinacionales. Por otro lado, proponemos que la ampliacion de fronteras aumenta los factores estresantes de los expatriados, lo que provoca su agotamiento emocional y el ser categorizados como grupo externo por parte de los empleados del pais anfitrion. Ademas, clasificamos la ampliacion de fronteras los expatriados en tres tipos (funcionales, linguisticos y culturales) y teorizamos sobre sus diferentes efectos en las bases cognitivas y afectivas de la confianza mutua y en los estresores de rol. Con datos de 177 diadas expatriados-pais anfitrion-trabajadores en empresas multinacionales chinas, nuestro marco de doble filo se ve generalmente respaldado. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la ampliacion de las fronteras culturales muestra el efecto de doble filo mas fuerte, mientras que la ampliacion de las fronteras funcionales muestra efectos asimetricos, con resultados negativos que superan a los positivos, y la ampliacion de las fronteras funcionales muestra efectos asimetricos, con resultados negativos que superan a los positivos. Expatriados normalmente ultrapassam fronteiras para enfrentar desafios relacionados com variacoes funcionais, linguisticas e culturais em empresas multinacionais (MNEs), o que por sua vez influencia suas relacoes com funcionarios do pais anfitriao. Integrando as perspectivas do capital social e da teoria dos papeis, este estudo explora a dinamica relacional entre expatriados e funcionarios do pais anfitriao, desenvolvendo um novo modelo teorico que examina os efeitos de dois gumes da ultrapassagem de fronteiras por expatriados. Propomos que a ultrapassagem de fronteiras por expatriados alimente a mutua confianca entre expatriados e funcionarios do pais anfitriao, facilitando ainda mais a identificacao de expatriados com as subsidiarias e a identificacao dos funcionarios do pais anfitriao com MNEs. Por outro lado, propomos que a ultrapassagem de fronteiras aumenta os fatores de stress do papel de expatriados, causando exaustao emocional de expatriados e categorizacao externa por parte de funcionarios do pais anfitriao. Classificamos ainda a ultrapassagem de fronteiras por expatriados em tres tipos (funcional, linguistico e cultural) e teorizamos sobre seus diversos efeitos nas bases cognitivas e afetivas da confianca mutua e fatores de stress do papel. Com dados de 177 diades expatriado-colega de trabalho do pais de acolhimento em MNEs chinesas, nosso quadro de dois gumes e geralmente suportado. Nossas descobertas sugerem que a ultrapassagem de fronteiras culturais apresenta o efeito de dois gumes mais forte, enquanto a ultrapassagem funcional de fronteiras mostra efeitos assimetricos, com resultados negativos superando os positivos, e a ultrapassagem de fronteiras linguisticas apresenta o efeito mais fraco. Este estudo oferece insights realistas e abrangentes sobre a ultrapassagem de fronteiras por expatriados, particularmente nas relacoes entre expatriados e funcionarios do pais anfitriao. ?(MNE?, ?东. ?刃(Sic) ?东.东 ?offspring 东MNE. ?压 ?耗竭 ?东.(,? ?压.MNE177 东 ?刃. ?刃 ?刃.洞 ?东.