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Intercultural adaptation: an exploratory study with portuguese expatriates in Angola

dc.contributor.authorPinto, Ivone
dc.contributor.authorMartins, Dora
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-26T08:10:15Z
dc.date.available2023-07-26T08:10:15Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractThis paper aims to present the results of the intercultural adaptation of Portuguese expatriate workers in Angola. More specifically, it explores the perception of the expatriates participating in the study regarding their adaptation to the Angolan intercultural context. Intercultural adaptation presupposes the definition of the degree of psychological and family comfort that the expatriates feel in relation to the new environment as well as the degree of ease or difficulty with which they adapt to the day-to-day and the development of the work in the host country (Ramalu et al., 2010; Chang, 1997). Since intercultural adaptation is a process that involves behavioral, emotional, cognitive and attitudinal changes resulting from interaction with a new and different cultural context, intercultural adaptation behaves as a determinant of the (in) success of the international mission (Ramalu et al. 2010). The well-being of an expatriate results from the acceptance with the new culture, the ability to perform the function in the host organization as well as the ability to relate to the natives of that country (Lee & Vorst, 2010). However, the cultural differences between the country of origin and the host country may result in a set of barriers to which expatriates are exposed. In addition, expatriates are confronted with values, beliefs and perceptions that may differ from those they believe in or from those with whom they are familiar (Geetika & Gupta, 2012). Considering that intercultural adjustment continues to deserve high attention by researchers in international human resources management (Dabic, Gonzalez-Loureiro & Harvey, 2015), and at the same time the trend of expatriation growth in Portuguese companies to the Angolan context in recent years, reinforce the pertinence of this study. To obtain empirical evidence, a qualitative methodology was used. The instrument for collecting privileged information was the semi-structured interview, and 13 interviews were conducted with Portuguese expatriates in Angola. The results suggest that the process of intercultural adaptation of Portuguese expatriates to the Angolan context is not standardized, since three possible behaviors were perceived by the participants involved in the study: (1) existence of an intercultural shock in the initial phase of arrival in Angola but outdated with the international mission; (2) existence of an intercultural shock that has never been overcome; (3) lack of intercultural shock. We conclude that the process of intercultural adaptation of Portuguese expatriates to the Angolan context may be influenced by (1) contextual factors such as the cultural, economic and political differences between the two countries; (2) by factors of an individual nature, such as personality traits of individuals and; (3) factors of an organizational nature, namely the lack of good organizational support practices for the intercultural adjustment of expatriates. Finally, the conclusions suggest that organizations with experience in expatriation may need to reconsider their expatriation policies, with particular emphasis on issues related to intercultural preparation. The main contributions, limitations and suggestions for future studies are also presented.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationPinto, I., & Martins, D. (2018). Intercultural adaptation: An exploratory study with Portuguese expatriates in Angola. Conferência - Investigação E Intervenção Em Recursos Humanos, (7). https://doi.org/10.34630/iirh.vi7.2607 [VII international Conference on Research and Intervention in Human Resources - iCRIHR., 6-7 de abril de 2018, S. Mamede de Infesta, ISCAP - Instituto Politécnico do Porto].pt_PT
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/23339
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.subjectIntercultural adaptationpt_PT
dc.subjectExpatriationpt_PT
dc.subjectExpatriatespt_PT
dc.subjectAngolapt_PT
dc.subjectInternational missionpt_PT
dc.subjectInternational management of human resourcespt_PT
dc.titleIntercultural adaptation: an exploratory study with portuguese expatriates in Angolapt_PT
dc.typeconference object
dspace.entity.typePublication
person.familyNameMartins
person.givenNameDora
person.identifier.ciencia-idB018-8C44-FA4C
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-2474-5483
person.identifier.ridA-4430-2017
person.identifier.scopus-author-id56027343000
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typeconferenceObjectpt_PT
relation.isAuthorOfPublication834d27d6-57a3-40ed-bd06-39bf1719f014
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery834d27d6-57a3-40ed-bd06-39bf1719f014

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