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Language, Cultural Intelligence, and Inpatriate Turnover Intentions: Leveraging Values in Multinational Corporations through Inpatriates

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  • Fabian Jintae Froese

    (Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Kwanghyun Kim

    (Korea University Business School)

  • Aileen Eng

    (Korea University Business School)

Abstract

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly hiring inpatriates into their headquarters (HQ) to disseminate and implement shared organizational values throughout the organization. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antecedents of inpatriates’ turnover intentions, which would be detrimental to the MNCs’ practices of spreading and leveraging organizational values through inpatriates. Based on the survey responses from 148 inpatriates in Korea-based MNCs, we conducted hierarchical moderated linear regression analyses to test our hypotheses. Results showed that greater levels of English use as a common corporate language in the HQ and perceived organizational-level motivational cultural intelligence (MCQ) were negatively related to inpatriate turnover intention. Furthermore, the negative relationships were attenuated by inpatriates’ host country language proficiency and individual-level of MCQ. Findings suggest that through inpatriate assignments, MNCs can implement and leverage their shared values among organizational subsidiaries across different operations. MNCs can retain inpatriates by better implementing a common corporate language and making their organizations more multicultural.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabian Jintae Froese & Kwanghyun Kim & Aileen Eng, 2016. "Language, Cultural Intelligence, and Inpatriate Turnover Intentions: Leveraging Values in Multinational Corporations through Inpatriates," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 283-301, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:56:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11575-015-0272-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11575-015-0272-5
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    1. Fabian Jintae Froese, 2020. "Ready for global success? Strengths and weaknesses of Korean HRM," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(2), pages 179-183, April.
    2. Amal M. Jawad, 2021. "Managing International Assignments (Expatriates and Inpatriates): Effect of Cultural Diversity," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(12), pages 1-78, July.
    3. Helene Tenzer & Siri Terjesen & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2017. "Language in International Business: A Review and Agenda for Future Research," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 815-854, December.
    4. Päivi Karhunen & Anne Kankaanranta & Tiina Räisänen, 2023. "Towards a Richer Understanding of Language and Identity in the MNC: Constructing Cosmopolitan Identities Through “English”," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 507-530, June.
    5. Sebastian Stoermer & Samuel Davies & Fabian Jintae Froese, 2021. "The influence of expatriate cultural intelligence on organizational embeddedness and knowledge sharing: The moderating effects of host country context," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 432-453, April.
    6. Kiessling, Timothy & Maley, Jane Frances & Moeller, Miriam & Dabić, Marina, 2023. "Managing global knowledge transfer: Inpatriate manager embeddedness and firm innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    7. Jurásek Miroslav & Potocký Tomislav, 2020. "How to Improve Communication within an Organization? The Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and Language Competence," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 12(2), pages 53-81, June.
    8. Kozhakhmet, Sanat & Nurgabdeshov, Assylbek, 2022. "Knowledge acquisition of Chinese expatriates: managing Chinese MNEs in Kazakhstan," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2).
    9. Bebenroth, Ralf & Froese, Fabian J., 2020. "Consequences of expatriate top manager replacement on foreign subsidiary performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    10. Debmalya Mukherjee & Satish Kumar & Naveen Donthu & Nitesh Pandey, 2021. "Research Published in Management International Review from 2006 to 2020: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Directions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 61(5), pages 599-642, October.
    11. Tomoki Sekiguchi & Fabian Jintae Froese & Chie Iguchi, 2016. "International human resource management of Japanese multinational corporations: Challenges and future directions," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(2), pages 83-109, April.
    12. Stefan Schmid & Simon Mitterreiter, 2020. "International Top Managers on Corporate Boards: Dissimilarity and Tenure," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(5), pages 787-825, October.
    13. Heejin Kim & B. Sebastian Reiche & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2022. "How does successive inpatriation contribute to subsidiary capability building and subsidiary evolution? An organizational knowledge creation perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1394-1419, September.
    14. Tomoki Sekiguchi & Norihiko Takeuchi & Tomokazu Takeuchi & Shiho Nakamura & Azusa Ebisuya, 2019. "How Inpatriates Internalize Corporate Values at Headquarters: The Role of Developmental Job Assignments and Psychosocial Mentoring," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 825-853, October.

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