Steering mobility

Despite growing anti-globalization sentiments and immigration barriers, global mobility - the ability to deploy talent seamlessly from one country to another - is more important than ever in supporting the globalization of multinational companies and preparing their managers for global leadership roles. The case of Schlumberger, the leading oil services company, illustrates this, a firm that sees its capacity to develop and move talent from anywhere in the world is a key strength. As discussed in other chapters, global mobility supports expansion abroad, provides a foundation for cross-border control and coordination, contributes to know-how transfer, and helps nurture leadership capabilities. We focus on the challenges of managing international mobility effectively. First, we discuss the drivers and growth of international mobility and the changing demographics of international employees. The core of the chapter explores the key stages of the international assignment cycle (from selection and preparation to compensation and repatriation) and reviews core practices supporting effective cross-border mobility, as well as alternative forms of global work. We conclude with a discussion of current trends, ongoing challenges, and future scenarios.