Title: Impact of workplace acculturation on expatriate job performance: does inter-cultural consciousness and self-efficacy play a role?

Authors: Nitin Simha Vihari; Mohit Yadav; Thamizh Selvan Bhaskaran; Anugamini Srivastava

Addresses: Middlesex University Dubai, Block 16 – Knowledge Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Jindal Global Business School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India ' EFS Facilities Management, Dubai Production City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ' Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Symbiosis Knowledge Village, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Intercultural mobility has become a way of life for modern-day work environments. Based on the work role transition theory and performance theory, the study aims to investigate the impact of workplace acculturation on expatriate (expat) job performance and the mediating effects of self-efficacy and intercultural consciousness. The data was collected from a sample of 202 expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to validate the hypothesis empirically. The findings supported and expanded the general knowledge that the dimensions of workplace acculturation (economic adaptation, socio-cultural adaptation and psychological adaption) positively affect expat job performance in the context of UAE's knowledge-intensive service sector. Furthermore, the expat performance partially mediated the self-efficacy and inter-cultural consciousness. The study extended the expatriate literature based on work role transition theory. In addition, the study contributed to ongoing literature by examining the role of self-efficacy and inter-cultural consciousness in the service sector of UAE.

Keywords: workplace acculturation; expatriate job performance; self-efficacy; intercultural consciousness; ICC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2022.126958

International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion, 2022 Vol.13 No.3, pp.282 - 304

Accepted: 21 Jul 2022
Published online: 14 Nov 2022 *

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