Cross-Cultural Challenges and Adjustments Among Expatriates in Malaysia
The globalization process focuses on the transformation of the economic environment worldwide. Malaysia in this new global era has opened its market to free trade and foreign investments in order to achieve its Vision 2020 of becoming an industrialized nation. As a result of this new advancement,...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2001
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9235/1/FPP_2001_12.pdf |
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| Summary: | The globalization process focuses on the transformation of the economic
environment worldwide. Malaysia in this new global era has opened its market
to free trade and foreign investments in order to achieve its Vision 2020 of
becoming an industrialized nation. As a result of this new advancement, more
expatriates are sent to Malaysia every year to help the process of technology
transfer internationally and to maintain the quality of the products generated in
this country. With the new environment, expatriates are bound to face challenges
and to make adjustments in their lifestyles. As such, a study was conducted with
the objectives of understanding the meaning of expatriates' experiences in terms
of cross-cultural challenges and to understand how they got adjusted staying in
Malaysia. This study applies the qualitative research methodology. The data were collected
through interviews of sixteen expatriates as informants for the study and who
are currently working in Malaysia. The interviews were conducted by using an
interview guide. These interviews were recorded and later transcribed. The
results of the study indicated that the informants faced with the following
challenges with regard to a) attitudes of Malaysians, b) the custom and the
religious issues, c) addressing social status d) gender issues, e) Malaysian
working habits, and f) cross-cultural training programs.As a result of these challenges the study pointed out that, the expatriates adapted
to the situations through the following adjustments: a) acquiring more cultural
knowledge regarding Malaysia, b) using the knowledge of previous experiences
in the host country, c) becoming more tolerant and optimistic about the people
and the new environment, d) establishing strong support system from own
organization, friends and family members. In conclusion, it is therefore
suggested, future programmes of expatriates in Malaysia can be improved by
having more intellectual discourse regarding cross-cultural issues and
organizing concise and systematic cross-cultural training sessions in order to
create awareness of the cultural differences among the participants of foreign
assignments to Malaysia. It is hoped that such efforts will achieve a win-win
situation for the expatriate's country of origin and the host country. |
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