Factors of Success of Female Expatriates During International Assignments

Abstract

The aim of this bachelor’s thesis was to study what the factors of success of female expatriates are during international assignments. Also, the objective was to find out how companies could support and enhance these factors in the future and what kind of barriers of success there exist for female expatriates. The theoretical study examined international assignments in general, expatriates, success and failure of international assignments and the barriers of success. Also, female expatriates and their critical success factors were discussed in the theoretical study. The empirical study was carried out as a qualitative study in which participated seven female expatriates who were currently on an international assignment or were already repatriated. An e-form questionnaire was used as a data collection method. The study indicates that the success factors of female expatriates are networking, mentoring and personal characteristics; the successful combination of a career, a marriage and children, having a supporting social network and the positive attitudes of host nationals. The results of the study are explained in more detail in chapters “Presenting the Results” and “Analyzing the Results”.