Cross‐cultural training of European and American managers in Morocco

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the training provided to US and European expatriates in Morocco, and subsequently build the body of knowledge for international HRD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the models of Black and Mendenhall and Mendenhall and Oddou, subdividing the skills needed to be successful in a foreign country into three categories of skills; maintenance of self, interpersonal skills, and cognitive skills. The population for the study comprises 109 private companies in Morocco, with 34 responding, resulting in a response rate of 31 per cent.

Findings

Pre‐departure training was provided to all respondents, but none indicated receiving any training post‐arrival. None of the respondents' spouses or children received any training. Further, there was no tuition in Arabic, and very few received tuition in French. Co‐workers, locals, and neighbors were found to be major factors in assisting expatriates' adjustment.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by the small sample size. The inconclusive results of this research provided some information that needs further exploratory studies to address the impact neighbors, co‐workers, and locals may have on the expatriates' adjustment. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of training that assists expatriates' adjustment and performance in Morocco.

Originality/value

Morocco is part of the countries that constitute the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). MENA countries share similarities in culture that can impact global HRD practices. The results of the study add to the knowledge of international management and global HRD theory and practices.

Citation

El Mansour, B. and Wood, E. (2010), "Cross‐cultural training of European and American managers in Morocco", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 381-392. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090591011039108