Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities
Year : 2013, Volume : 3, Issue : 1
First page : ( 1) Last page : ( 11)
Print ISSN : 0000-0000. Online ISSN : 2249-7315.

Expatriate managers’ metaphors of being in a foreign culture: Adoptive parents vs. brotherhood

Danisman Sumeyra Alpaslan

Assistant Professor, Mevlana (Rumi) University, Turkey.

Abstract

Globalization of the companies causes numerous managers to have an overseas experience at least once in their long term career path. During these experiences, expatriate managers face cultural characteristics of host countries. As a result of this interaction, culture can influence expatriate managers’ professional, social and individual life in the host country. In this study; it is examined that (1) exploring expatriate managers’ view in respect of being in a foreign culture and (2) using metaphors for exploring their thoughts on these experiences. The qualitative research interviews were used as a data collection method and the sample of the research had been selected from South Korean expatriate managers who work in Turkey and the USA for a temporary period. All managers were reached by trace method and the interview data were analysed in QSR Nvivo software with content analysis. Finally, it has been determined that the expatriate managers’ thoughts who work in Turkey, based on confusion, competition and exploration ideas. On the other hand, the expatriate managers who work in the USA shared some metaphors which symbolise their thoughts based on adaptation, communion and integration. The mutual idea of the expatriate managers both from Turkey and the USA is feeling love and having loyalty to the host country.

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Keywords

Expatriate manager, culture, metaphor.

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