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Cultural and cross-cultural adaptation
In order to avoid potential confusion, it should be understood that the terms cultural adaptation and cross-cultural adaptation are used interchangeably in this section, with the understanding that, in the context of this study, the word adaptation always refers to cross-cultural adaptation, where a person has to adapt to various cultures and different environments. Cultural adaptation takes place in the host country where an individual is socialised into a particular set of social rules and norms through the process of enculturation (Haslberger & Brewster, 2005). Cross-cultural adaptation takes place when a person has to learn a new set of norms and has to expand on his/her existing cultural repertoire; a degree of unlearning (deculturation) has to take place in order for old habits to be replaced by with new ones through the process of acculturation (Haslberger, 2005:86). Figure 2.4 (overleaf) illustrates the relationships between enculturation, deculturation, acculturation and assimilation in the process of the adaptation process. According to this model, an assimilated individual is one who has successfully incorporated values of both the native and host culture in order to deal with the challenges posed by the new environment (Kim, 2001:53).
Comparing the Main Affinities and their Definitions
The two focus groups identified seemingly similar affinities to describe their experiences of living and working in the Netherlands. However, it should be borne in mind that Northcutt and McCoy (2004:245) warn that affinities in two systems may have different meanings based on their structural features or their dialectic properties (representing dynamic, interrelated polarities within the system), or at a scalar level. As a first step in comparing the two systems, it is thus important to recognise the similarities and differences between the conceptual definitions used by the two groups. Northcutt and McCoy (2004:349) describe this kind of comparison as a comparison of the “timbre” that comprises each affinity. As a first step towards getting a feel for the key themes and any potential overlap between the two groups, a keyword analysis was conducted, using the qualitative analysis software package QSR Nvivo 9. Each focus group transcript, together with the corresponding brainstorm cards, was used to develop simple cloud diagrams of the group’s experiences. Table 5.1 provides an overview of the keywords that were mentioned by both groups during the silent brainstorming process. In view of the need for parsimony, only the first 49 words are illustrated in Table 4.24, as these were the keywords with the highest frequencies.
CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 BACKGROUND
1.3 THE RELEVANCE OF EXPLORING ADAPTATION, ADJUSTMENT, ACCULTURATION AND CQ FOR WOMEN
1.4 WOMEN AND INTERNATIONAL (EXPATRIATE) ASSIGNMENTS
1.5 CQ AND EXPATRIATE ADJUSTMENT
1.6 MY INTEREST IN THE TOPIC AND MY OWN SELF-INITIATED EXPATRIATION
1.7 SUMMARY OF DEFINITIONS AND KEY TERMS
1.8 AIM OF THE STUDY
1.9 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.10 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.11 DELIMITATIONS
1.12 IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF THE STUDY
1.13 OUTLINE OF THE REMAINING CHAPTERS
1.14 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF EXTANT KNOWLDEDGE
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPATRIATES
2.3 DEFINITIONS AND DIMENSIONAL MODELS OF CULTURE
2.4 CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
2.5 DEVELOPING CQ
2.6 OPERATIONALISING THE CONSTRUCTS OF ADJUSTMENT, ADAPTATION AND ACCULTURATION
2.7 WOMEN AND INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
2.8 CONCLUSION OF REVIEW OF EXTANT KNOWLEDGE
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY, PARADIGM, DESIGN AND METHODS
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 RATIONALE AND PHILOSOPHY: WHAT IS RESEARCH?
3.3 EPISTEMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY
3.4 STRATEGY OF INQUIRY AND BROAD RESEARCH DESIGN – HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT THERE IS TO BE KNOWN?
3.5 QUALITY AND RIGOUR IN QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION
3.6 ENSURING QUALITY DATA
3.7 RESEARCH ETHICS
3.8 CHAPTER CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 4 INTERACTIVE QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 IQA FOCUS GROUP 1 – 24 APRIL 2010
4.3 IQA FOCUS GROUP 2 (12 JUNE 2010)
4.4 CHAPTER CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 5 RESEARCHER’S INTERPRETATION AND KEY FINDINGS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 SID COMPARISONS ACROSS CONSITUENCIES
5.3 ZOOMING IN AND OUT: MAPPING DECISIONS AND OUTCOMES IN THE JOURNEY OF CHOICE AND CHANCE
5.4 CHAPTER CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 6 LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD – REVISITING THE EXTANT KNOWLEDGE AND PRESENTING A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 SELF-INITIATED EXPATRIATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATH
6.3 BETA CAREER PATTERNS, CAREER CAPITAL AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR SIES
6.4 TOWARDS A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING WOMEN’S CROSS-CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT AND CAREER EXPERIENCES
6.5 CHAPTER CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 SUMMARY OF KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS TO ANSWER THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
7.3 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FINAL SID
7.4 A RETURN TO THE LITERATURE: TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED MODEL
7.5 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE RESEARCH TO THEORY AND PRACTICE
7.6 LIMITATIONS
7.7 GENERALISABILITY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
7.8 CONCLUDING REMARKS
