Over recent decades—and despite disruptions such as the global pandemic, geopolitical volatility, and rapid digitalization—the growth of multinational organizations has increased the demand for a globally mobile, culturally agile workforce. Attracting, developing, and retaining employees who can operate across cultural, institutional, and regulatory boundaries is now critical to organizational success. As a result, more professionals pursue distinctly global careers, often serving as expatriates, frequent international business travelers, members of global virtual or hybrid teams, or short-term project assignees.

This course examines evidence-based strategies and organizational practices to effectively manage and support employees in these global work roles. We will discuss strategies to ensure that these global professionals are successful, engaged, and able to thrive in often challenging international contexts. We will also explore the benefits and challenges of pursuing a global career from the individual perspective, enabling you to make informed choices and craft a sustainable global career path. Topics include cultural and institutional factors, global staffing and mobility, expatriation and repatriation, alternative forms of global work (e.g., frequent travel, commuter and short-term assignments, digital nomadism), global virtual/hybrid collaboration, migration and policy contexts, inclusion and well-being. 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain how cultural, institutional, and organizational factors shape global employees’ experiences and outcomes.
2. Differentiate among global work arrangements (e.g., long-term expat, short-term/commuter, inpatriate, frequent flyer, virtual/hybrid team member) and identify their distinct opportunities and challenges.
3. Critically evaluate current practices in global staffing and mobility (e.g., selection, preparation, support, compensation) and recommend viable improvements.
4. Design a coherent expatriation and repatriation program, including selection, preparation, on-assignment support, knowledge transfer, and reintegration to reduce failure and increase ROI.
5. Analyze challenges and opportunities arising from international migration for firms and societies, considering talent flows and inclusion.
6. Compare pathways for crafting global careers (e.g., boundaryless, protean, dual-career considerations) and assess fit with personal values and goals.
7. Reflect on and critically evaluate your own future global career choices, trade-offs, and development plan.
8. Demonstrate improved research, presentation, facilitation, and critical thinking skills by integrating theory, data, and practitioner insights.

This course is to be held in person. As per WU's guidelines for PI courses, you will fail the course if you miss more than 20% of the course. Please note that any absences will also negatively impact your participation grade. 

This is a highly interactive course that aims for a balance between lectures and student involvement. Thus, the success of this class depends on students fully engaging and participating in class discussions and activities. The course comprises lectures, case analyses, discussions, and a student-team research project.

The team research project will give you an opportunity to explore topics of global employment and careers in depth. There are many issues related to global careers that we will not be able to cover in class. Thus, this team project will allow you to conduct more concentrated research on a topic that interests you. Most importantly, you will have the chance to talk with global employees and/or HR professionals who have valuable first-hand experience. 

All course documents, readings, assignment guidelines, lecture notes, etc., will be posted on Canvas in due time. 

Assessment will be based on both individual and team performance. Breakdown of assignments with percent of total grade:

1. In-class participation 30%
2. One individual written case analysis 20% 
3. Team research presentation 40%
4. Team peer evaluations 10%

More information on these assignments will be provided on the course website at the start of the course.

Please note that successful in-class participation involves not only attending class but also frequently and thoughtfully contributing to the discussion by answering questions, engaging in a thoughtful analysis of the discussed cases, building on other students’ ideas, actively participating in activities, and synthesizing across readings and discussions. You are expected to have read all the required reading materials and cases in advance and be prepared to discuss them.

Grading key:

90-100% = 1

80-89% = 2

70-79% = 3

60 - 69% = 4

Below 60% = 5

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Prior knowledge of human resource management and cross-cultural management is helpful but not necessary.

Assoc. Prof. Mihaela Dimitrova, Ph.D.

Department of Global Business and Trade

Office: D1 3.032

I am available for individual meetings by appointment. Please email to set up an appointment (mdimitro@wu.ac.at)