Concentration: Human Resources

Difficulties in Acculturation and its Effect on Employees

[Carol Pratt Hardy]

[Monitor: Ronnie D. Wilson, JD, MSA]

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

November, 2008

Executive Summary

The managers of the world were accustomed to operating in one arena when it comes to doing business. Today there is an increased desire to increase the market share for international managers. Employees with a high degree of technical experience have been selected to leave their home country to work in a host country. This has resulted in a high degree of difficulty as the expatriates try to maintain a high level of productivity while trying to acclimate to a new culture. Once the employee leaves the host culture, the adjustment period is not over but it starts again as the expatriate re-enters their home country. The Chief of the Bayne-Jones Community Hospital (BJACH) Resource Management Division realizes the importance of trying to acclimatize the new employees from different cultures into the culture of the hospital at Fort Polk. Because of the mission of the hospital - provide support for the fighting strength - the hospital is manned and utilized by individuals from different cultures and different countries. It is a requirement that a program is put into place to ensure high productivity during the period of acclimation for all employees, both civilian and military.

Table of Content

Executive Summary2

Chapter One6

Introduction6

Significance of the Study7

Purpose of the Study7

Research Questions8

Hypothesis8

Assumptions8

Limitations9

Definition of Terms9

Chapter Two11

Literature Review11

Challenging Locations11

Demographics of Employees12

Culture13

Interventions to Increase Acculturation15

Culture Shock15

Salient Factors16

Signs and Symptoms of Culture Shock19

Stages of Culture Shock21

Repatriation Process23

Chapter Three25

Intorduction25

Method25

Rationale of the Methods25

Study Population26

Procedure & Setting27

Instrumentation28

Explanation of the Survey Questions29

Face Validity33

Data Collection Procedures34

Plans to address concerns35

Methods for dealing with confidentiality and anonymity35

Data Analysis35

Chapter Four36

Results & Discussion36

Demographic Characteristics of Sample36

Factors affecting the ability to adjust at BJACH37

Experience of other factor affecting adjustment at Bayne Jones Army Community Hospital41

Experience of Personality Disorders while adjusting at BJACH42

Amount of Preparation to tackle Problems Overseas45

Factors Reducing Difficulties While Adjusting at BJACH48

Chapter Five50

Conclusion & Recommendation50

Bibliography53

DEDICATION

This study is dedicated to two extraordinary women in her life who always strived for excellence. The first one is her Maternal Grandmother, Mrs. Willie Ann Sessoms, and the second one is her Mother, Mrs. Jean Y. Pratt. This study would not have been possible without the help of the Patient Administration Division and the staff at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital.

This study would not have been possible without the love and support from my two super children, Jasmine and Sterling. They have sacrificed many hours to allow me to complete this study.

Chapter One

Introduction

The managers of the world have been faced with a very difficult task in trying to increase the international marketing of their company in the fast paced world of globalization. Fifty to one hundred years ago businesses were essentially located in one location and the customers or the clients that were targeted were within a small radius of the established business. In an attempt to grasp a larger portion of the global arena, CEO's are now branching out into the international arena to increase their market share. The arena is ...