Subordinates' perceptions of Western expatriate hotel managers in China: The effects of conflict avoidance

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the hotel industry in Mainland China has precipitated an increased need for hiring Western expatriate managers, especially among multinational brands. The consequences of expatriate failure are well studied and are of vital concern among stakeholders, necessitating a deeper understanding of Chinese norms. Prior justice research in China has recommended the inclusion of Chinese societal protocols, such as face protection and conflict avoidance, as predictors of Interactional Justice. The current study has added to the literature the importance of understanding face conflict avoidance styles as a precursor to Western expatriate managerial success.

Hospitality employment 2033: A backcasting perspective (invited paper for ‘luminaries’ special issue of International Journal of Hospitality Management)

“…Individual businesses, especially those beyond the gaze of public accountability, can reflect some of the very worst in terms of exploitation and a neglect of basic employee rights. In the global South, globalisation of hospitality and tourism enterprises, which privilege Western expatriate managers, unfamiliar with the local culture and local community imperatives, remains an on-going issue which impacts on workplace culture and employment decisions (Mejia et al, 2016;Syed et al, 2014). This is, in part, predicated upon the global hotel career model of international transfers (Cassel et al, 2018;Mooney et al, 2017).…”

Expatriate managers in hospitality: A systematic literature review

“…HCNs support : Based on the reviewed research, national hosts play a vital role in expatriates' effective adjustment by offering social support to the workplace. Local staff, as indicated by Mejia et al (2016), are considered a valuable socializer and the finest source of information that assists expatriates in overcoming cross‐cultural challenges and learning about their roles in the host country.…”

“…Although recent scholarly works on the issues of expatriates have been called for in several studies (Lee et al, 2021; Mejia et al, 2016), it is remarkably evident that the majority of research on managing expatriates has been carried out across a wide range of disciplines, with scant attention being dedicated to the issues of expatriate managers in the hospitality industry. Therefore, the current literature provides minimal insights to industry practitioners and academic researchers on the challenges impeding successful expatriation strategies, where there is still much to be investigated in depth regarding the intricacies surrounding international hospitality assignments (Causin & Ayoun, 2011).…”

An Intensive Review of Expatriates' Issues in China

“…Furthermore, Cai and Hall (2015) found out that the issues of the structural and cultural differences in China influence the academicians' expatriate's jobs and performance. The Chinese community's lack of understanding of cultural protocol leads to conflict (Mejia et al, 2016). Hence, culture-specific tactics are needed, especially for western expatriates (Mejia et al, & Aday, 2015).…”