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Ross Davidson

Research student

Ross Davidson is affiliated with The Open University's Department for People and Organisations.

You can email Ross Davidson directly; but for media enquiries please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.

Current research

Through the eyes of the expatriate: A cognitive exploration of the expatriate work assignment

Despite the current challenging economic climate and social unrest worldwide, organizations continue to deploy people on ‘traditional’ expatriate assignments ... usually in key positions. The international organization setting of the expatriate is very complex. Most people assigned to ex patria postings fit into the new organization environment with little effort; however, a significant number struggle. As you are aware struggling employees can represent a serious disruption and cost to operations. Importantly, this situation can be very detrimental to the individual’s career as well. With better understanding of the expatriate experience, selection and support protocols can be improved.

Through the lens of the expatriate in China, my PhD research seeks to understand what dimensions are perceived as most relevant to their satisfaction within their international organization setting. Through a mixed methods approach using causal maps and interviews, I am developing a cognitive model of their experience. Positive reactions from academia and expatriates have allowed me to develop a network of contacts for further research.

 

Future research will continue to engage with people in international organizations and will focus on three themes. The first theme is to build on my PhD research that is focussed on understanding people in their international organization setting. The second theme is the female expatriate. Only recently have women entered the international arena in significant numbers, thus this phenomenon warrants attention. Finally, the knowledge transfer interface between the expatriate and the local Chinese employee is critical yet not well understood.

You can learn more about this research from my award winning poster.

Supervisors

Publications

Conference papers
Davidson, RAG  (2010)  'The Expatriate Experience: Person - Organization Fit: a more appropriate lens?', European Academy of Management, Rome, Italy, (May).
Davidson, RAG  (2009)  'A question about ethics?’ Global E-Conference on Person', Organization Fit. Open University Business School.
Davidson, RAG  (2009)  'Re-examining the expatriate experience through a fit lens', Academy of International Business, Glasgow, Scotland.
Davidson, RAG  (2008)  'The expatriate experience: Person - International Assignment Fit', British Academy of Management, Harrogate, UK.
Davidson, RAG  (2008)  'The expatriate: the person - international assignment nexus', Global E-Conference on Person – Organization Fit. Open University Business School.
Talbot, D, Davidson, RAG, Nelson, P  (2008)  'Nascent Research in Person-Organization Fit', British Academy of Management annual conference, Harrogate.
Other
Billsberry, J, Talbot, D, Nelson, PC, Edwards, JA, Godrich, SG, Davidson, RAG, Carter, JP  (2010)  'The People Make the Place: Dynamic Linkages Between Individuals and Organizations edited by D. Brent Smith', Personnel Psychology, vol. 63, issue 2, pp. 483-487.
Billsberry, J, Edwards, JA, Talbot, D, Nelson, PC, Davidson, RAG, Godrich, SG, Marsh, PJG  (2009)  'Review of Perspectives on Organizational Fit by Cheri Ostroff and Timothy A. Judge (Editors)', Personnel Psychology, vol. 62, issue 4, pp. 880-883.