A Revised Model of International Experience: The Relationship between International Experience, Adjustment, and Performance

The purpose of this study was to present and test an organized framework forunderstanding international experience and to identify the developmental aspects ofinternational experience that facilitate performance and adjustment abroad. Theframework consisted of quantitative and qualitative elements to provide amultidimensional examination of international experience that went beyond traditionaluni-dimensional measures of international experience to more effectively capture theconstruct. A key differentiator of this model is the addition of several key qualitativeelements including cultural challenge, complexity, variety, cultural involvement, socialinvolvement, and work involvement. The elements of involvement—cultural, social, andwork—each related to different aspects of adjustment. Behavioral aspects of culturalcomplexity were negatively related to performance, contrary to what was hypothesized.This study also examined the role of a key factor, individual flexibility, as a directpredictor of performance abroad and as a moderator to the international experience—performance/adjustment relationship. Flexibility was positively and directly related toperformance and also moderated the relationships between cultural challenge andperformance, such that flexible individuals who engaged in culturally challengingexperiences while abroad on their current assignment were associated with higher levelsof performance than less flexible individuals. Flexibility also moderated the relationshipbetween variety of experiences and performance abroad. Overall, this paper contributesto the increased knowledge and understanding of international work assignments andhow they can be strategically shaped to benefit both the individual expatriate workingabroad and their employing organization.