Challenges of the Repatriation Process

Abstract

This chapter focuses the challenges of repatriation. Although corporate expatriation has been receiving attention, this chapter seeks to complement this perspective embracing the analysis of the repatriation process. As such, the aim of this chapter is to broaden the knowledge on repatriation exploring previous studies. For this, the authors answer two research questions: Why is the process of expatriation regarded as more relevant than the repatriation process? What do MNEs need to improve to assure a good repatriation process? Regarding the first question, most of repatriation processes are seen by MNEs as the final stage of expatriation which makes companies pay less attention to repatriation as an independent process. Moreover, companies tend to care more with the short-term results of the expatriation experience than the long-term ones, so MNEs disregard the importance of the experience acquired by the repatriate. Regarding the second research question, one concludes that there are four main dimensions: manager feedback; manager network; human resources department and companies.