Questions Case Assignment Advanced International HRM

Topic 1

Alignment of International Strategy and Headquarters’ Orientation regarding the

international HRM policy

1. Please describe the four main internationalization strategies (Bartlett&Ghoshal) and

explain which one is used by the company in the case. (10 points)

2. Please describe briefly the three HRM orientations by Perlmutter and the

subsequently added fourth one by Dowling. What is the HRM orientation adopted by

the headquarters? What comments can you make concerning this choice? What can

you recommend to the company’s headquarters in this sense? (10 points)

Topic 2

Expatriation management

1. Is Paul Fierman a good candidate for the expatriation position? Please describe first

his mission from the description of his position. Then compare the profile of an ideal

candidate (define the competencies necessary to successfully carry out his mandate,

name at least five competencies) with Paul Fierman’s profile. (13 points)

2. Describe the six steps of strategic management of expatriates briefly – from the

planning to the repatriation. What comments can you make for each step on the

expatriation management in general? (18 points)

Topic 3

Compensation of international staff

1. What are the different expatriate compensation methods you recognized in the text?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of these different expatriate

compensation methods for the company and for the expatriates? (12 points)

2. What do you suggest to the US headquarters’ human resources manager in order to

improve the expatriate satisfaction/compensation? Name at least three different

measurements. You can recommend as well other expatriate compensation methods

you find in literature. Justify your answer. (9 points)

Topic 4

Different perspectives on expatriation

1. How can Paul’s expectations towards his expatriation be characterized? Think about

his objectives, his activities and evaluate critically the effectiveness and potential

problems of these activities. Name at least four aspects. (6 points)

2. How is the position of the American superior at headquarters towards Paul’s

expatriation to be characterized? Name at least four aspects. (6 points)

3. How is the position of the local managers at the Vietnamese subsidiary towards

Paul’s expatriation to be characterized? Make a guess and name at least four

aspects. (6 points)