The role of family considerations in an expatriate majority environment

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to add to knowledge on the environment of self-initiated expatriates and the importance of family in determining expatriate retention. It seeks to explore the role of family in an environment vastly different to that of previous research, one where expatriates are outnumbering citizens four to one. Further, the paper aims to explore familial adjustment differences that emerge amongst the different demographic segments within this expatriate majority environment. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is based on survey data obtained from 364 self-initiated expatriates. Beyond a thorough demographic analysis providing additional background, data to test hypotheses were analyzed using SPSS and, where suitable, independent samples t-test or one-way ANOVA. Findings: Evidence was found of what can be described as an environment easing expatriate adjustment as well as questioning the impact of many of the problems previously identified in literature on expatriates. Findings show an environment where some of the stressors associated with living abroad have been mitigated and family has more or less become a motivation to stay rather than to leave. In addition, the demographic analysis of expatriate faculty adds to knowledge about the globalization of higher education. Practical implications: Definitions of what constitutes a hardship posting for expatriates may need to be revisited, taking into account national demographic characteristics. Current thinking on the expatriate family should also consider different settings where family may actually be a motivation to remain. Originality/value: This paper provides a new perspective, as previous literature suggested family to be almost exclusively a reason for expatriate difficulties. Further, little focus has been made on countries where expatriates represent a large share or the majority of the population such as in several of the Arabian Gulf countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Self-initiated expatriate faculty in the UAE: Balancing the profession and financial rewards

This study examines the importance of financial rewards on expatriation and its relationship to professional roles and behaviours amongst self-initiated expatriate faculty. Survey data obtained from 364 expatriate faculty in the UAE is analysed. Bluedorn\u27s (1982) staying or leaving index (SLI), as a predictor for actual intention to leave, is contrasted with their motivations to stay or leave the host country. The findings show how respondents perceive salary as a key motivator to stay in the host country along with voice in decision making and contractual employment. While perceived low salary levels have a significant impact on the intention to leave we could not find evidence for salary having a direct influence on professional behaviours. Beyond re-affirming the importance of salary, only voice in decision making and contractual employment seem to be of serious consequence to expatriate academics in their decision to leave the host country. This demonstrates the complexity of the interplay between professional characteristics and financial rewards. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Impact of knowledge management on law firm performance

It is a management truism that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. To manage knowledge effectively organisations need to understand how to measure their knowledge management performance against organisational goals. The case study organisation has developed a balanced scorecard, which is used to monitor key drivers for performance within the remit of the knowledge management function, thereby aiming to improve the delivery of value adding services. The set of cause and effect relationships at the heart of the scorecard - referred to as the success map - is at the core of this research, which aims to investigate if the link between managing knowledge and financial performance really exists and - if it does - how it can be influenced. By means of analytical methods including regression, correlation and semi-structured interviews the existence of this link is supported by evidence and the success map updated to reflect the relationships among key performance drivers that were positively identified as relevant. The outcome is a model for managing knowledge that can be applied to professional service firms or comparable organisations that are highly dependant on knowledge. In relation to this model, cultural variations were investigated and found to significantly influence the relevant performance drivers in several regions and countries across the case study organisation. Ignoring these cultural variations was found to carry the risk to base action on deceitful insights. In addition to this, the analysis of the survey also gave a clear indication of how to foster knowledge sharing among lawyers of different nationality and levels of seniority. This thesis provides the empirical evidence for a link between knowledge management and organisational performance.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Parental influence on female vocational decisions in the Arabian Gulf

Due to the Arabian Gulf’s pyramid-style ‘national’ demographic profile and pronounced reliance on expatriate labor, policymakers are now actively seeking ways to increase national FLFP. In this context, we examine the impact of parental influence on the post-graduation vocational intentions of women in the United Arab Emirates. Perceived levels of parental support, engagement and interference are measured against factors including: the likelihood per se of seeking formal employment, sectoral preferences and, the impact of sociocultural barriers on such decisions. While remunerative factors (particularly salary and maternity leave) and sentiment towards a given occupation’s ‘appropriateness’ were observed to have considerable bearing, so was the role played by parents. Parental support is found to significantly reduce the magnitude of sociocultural barriers. Conversely, parental interference results in labor market entry being less likely. Moreover, those whose fathers have tertiary-level education have a significantly higher intention of joining the workforce

Parental influence on female vocational decisions in the Arabian Gulf

Due to the Arabian Gulf’s pyramid-style ‘national’ demographic profile and pronounced reliance on expatriate labor, policymakers are now actively seeking ways to increase national FLFP. In this context, we examine the impact of parental influence on the post-graduation vocational intentions of women in the United Arab Emirates. Perceived levels of parental support, engagement and interference are measured against factors including: the likelihood per se of seeking formal employment, sectoral preferences and, the impact of sociocultural barriers on such decisions. While remunerative factors (particularly salary and maternity leave) and sentiment towards a given occupation’s ‘appropriateness’ were observed to have considerable bearing, so was the role played by parents. Parental support is found to significantly reduce the magnitude of sociocultural barriers. Conversely, parental interference results in labor market entry being less likely. Moreover, those whose fathers have tertiary-level education have a significantly higher intention of joining the workforce

Managing in an economic crisis: The role of market orientation in an international law firm

This research paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between market orientation and performance in the context of a law firm during a time of economic crisis. The contribution is twofold, adding to the fairly limited research on market orientation within law firms, and to the limited research on the role of market orientation in times of economic crisis. The findings, from the questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews within practice groups of a large multinational law firm, conclude that market orientation is important during an economic crisis. Those practice groups with higher market orientation scores withstand the increased turbulence and outperform those practice groups with lower market orientation scores

Impact of knowledge management on law firm performance

It is a management truism that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. To manage knowledge effectively organisations need to understand how to measure their knowledge management performance against organisational goals. The case study organisation has developed a balanced scorecard, which is used to monitor key drivers for performance within the remit of the knowledge management function, thereby aiming to improve the delivery of value adding services. The set of cause and effect relationships at the heart of the scorecard - referred to as the success map - is at the core of this research, which aims to investigate if the link between managing knowledge and financial performance really exists and - if it does - how it can be influenced. By means of analytical methods including regression, correlation and semi-structured interviews the existence of this link is supported by evidence and the success map updated to reflect the relationships among key performance drivers that were positively identified as relevant. The outcome is a model for managing knowledge that can be applied to professional service firms or comparable organisations that are highly dependant on knowledge. In relation to this model, cultural variations were investigated and found to significantly influence the relevant performance drivers in several regions and countries across the case study organisation. Ignoring these cultural variations was found to carry the risk to base action on deceitful insights. In addition to this, the analysis of the survey also gave a clear indication of how to foster knowledge sharing among lawyers of different nationality and levels of seniority. This thesis provides the empirical evidence for a link between knowledge management and organisational performance

Turning knowledge into value in professional service firms

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss the findings of research into the value perception of knowledge management among lawyers and staff from among the top ten global law firms. Design/methodology/ approach – Interviews were conducted with lawyers as well as knowledge management (KM) service providers within the selected law firms. The results were then analysed by statistical means and compared to previous findings in literature. The methodology is inspired and broadly based on a research paper into the value perception of information by Broady-Preston and Williams. Findings – The findings are that respondents showed strong support for the value of KM to law firm success through concepts such as improved efficiency, quality and other drivers for better performance. Research limitations/implications – The survey in the paper itself was limited to the top ten global law firms and is therefore not representative of the entire professional service sector or the law firm sector. Practical implications – The results in the paper indicate strong support from the internal customer side for the notion of KM adding value to the business of a law firm. Originality/value – Prior to this paper there has been little research into the value perception of knowledge management within the professional servic