A study on the evaluation of Japanese expatriates from the view point of local employees : the case of Japanese overseas subsidiaries in China

Abstract

This study focuses on the evaluation of Japanese expatriates' abilities, behavior and individual performance from the view point of their local subordinates in Japanese overseas subsidiaries of China. Data collected from 1,110 local employees working in 39 Japanese overseas subsidiaries were analyzed. Firstly, multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between Japanese expatriates' abilities, behavior and their performance. The result suggested that in Chinese context, for middle level management, six clusters of ability and behavior (i.e., "interpersonal skills", "job ability", "information transmission capacity", "organizational responsibility", "open-mindedness", and "understanding of local situation") have significant relationship to expatriates' performance. On the contrary, for the top level management, "information transmission capacity" and "understanding of local situation" were found to have no significant relationship to expatriate's performance. Secondly, t-test was used to examine the differences in the above six abilities and behavior between Japanese expatriates and local managers with the same managerial rank. The result suggested that regardless of the managerial rank, Japanese managers' "organizational responsibility" was highly evaluated by local staff compared with Chinese managers. On the contrary, "open mindedness" of Japanese middle level managers was evaluated lower than Chinese managers. Thirdly, in order to indentify the differences of the evaluation between industries, t-test was also used for Japanese managers working in manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies. The result shows that for top level managers working in non-manufacturing companies, "understanding of local situations" was evaluated lower compared to those in manufacturing companies. As for middle level managers working in non-manufacturing companies, "job ability" was evaluated lower compared with those working in manufacturing ones. On the other hand, the competency of "open mindedness" was highly evaluated compared to those working in manufacturing companies. Japanese expatriates' abilities and behavior are not only related to their performance, but it is also considered to be directly related to the motivation and performance of their local subordinates. By investigating the required abilities and behavior of Japanese expatriates for their individual performance and clarifying the evaluation of Japanese expatriates from local subordinates' point of view, this study will contribute to provide practical implications to the successful overseas assignment by Japanese companies.