Degree Name

MA in International Education

First Advisor

Sora Friedman

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to create an acculturation program that multinational companies can use to ease the transition of foreign-born employees who are transferred to the United States. There are a number of challenges for these employees, from navigating the logistics of finding a place to live, setting up a bank account and filling out taxes to the social emotional issues of trying to adapt to another culture, build community and be successful in a new work environment. Through interviews with foreign-born employees, Human Resources professionals, and intercultural trainers, qualitative and quantitative data was collected to understand current gaps and best practices in acculturation programs at multinational companies. The findings show that some companies have no formal acculturation programs and while others have well-developed processes, they only address practical aspects of living in the United States, and ignore social emotional needs. Using the data collected, the study contains a proposed acculturation program framework which multinational companies can adapt to their organizational culture in helping to implement clearly defined processes and procedures to ease the foreign-born employee’s transition to the United States.

Disciplines

Human Resources Management | International Business | Organizational Behavior and Theory | Other International and Area Studies | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Sociology of Culture | Strategic Management Policy | Training and Development

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