Challenges and Limitations of Intercultural Training

Recent years have seen a considerable increase in research on intercultural preparation and on the effectiveness of these trainings. Regrettably, there have been two shortcomings associated with these studies. Most research in this field has focused exclusively on intercultural training for expatriates whilst the preparatory programmes for inpatriates, i.e. foreign nationals who are relocated to an organisation's domestic headquarters, have not been investigated with the same level of rigour. At the same time the important aspect of preparing inpatriates for the company's corporate culture is often neglected. This means that the double layered acculturation' faced by employees coming from a foreign subsidiary is not sufficiently addressed. Based on data collected in Germany, this study provides the first in-depth analysis of the inpatriate experience and examines to what extent it is shaped by both the new national culture and the unfamiliar corporate culture. Exploring the specific roles and functions of inpatriates, Yvonne A. Henze convincingly argues the case for effective, tailor-made intercultural training which includes preparation for the relevant corporate culture.