Information systems personnel as expatriates: a review of the literature and identification of issues

Abstract The growing importance of information technology (IT) in facilitating international commerce creates opportunities for multinational firms. Realizing advantages from IT in the global area requires intelligent utilization of skilled personnel. However, prior research on general managers working outside their home country indicates potentially expensive problems for both individual employees and firms. This paper applies a research model previously developed in the expatriate literature to anticipate problems facing expatriate information systems (IS) personnel. From a research perspective, studying the reactions of IS personnel as expatriates can test the robustness of the proposed model. Insights from observing the adjustment of IS professionals in multinational settings may aid in better understanding domestic IS personnel issues in a time of growing employee ethnic, cultural and gender diversity.