The Role of Host Country Nationals' Support in Expatriate Adjustment and Assignment Success : A Case of Ghana

Expatriate literature acknowledge the importance of a host country's support in expatriate adjustment and assignment success, but only a few studies have addressed how the support receive from host country nationals may influence expatriate adjustment and overall success, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a survey data of expatriates on assignments, this study examines expatriates' perceptions of support from local employees and their impact on their adjustment and overall success. The results reveal that a host country's support has a significantly positive effect, not only on expatriates' cross-cultural adjustment, but also on their overall success. Expatriates perceive host co nationals' support as vital to enhancing their adjustment to host subsidiaries and successful assignment in general. The study recommends that multinational companies doing business in Africa must learn to incorporate host country practices and cultural value systems in the management of host subsidiaries rather than strictly adhering to the management style of their home countries