Multinational corporations' human resources architectures: a new conceptual model beyond expatriation

Much research in international human resource management has focussedalmost exclusively on the concept of expatriation and the internationaltransfer. This paper presents a theoretical model of a multinationalcorporation's workforce and the human resources architectures that areapplied to that workforce. This approach seeks to account for an array ofemerging issues that have remained largely outside the scope of traditionalexpatriate research. By redefining the key outcome in terms of strategicgoals for the organization, the model allows for the consideration of newinfluences such as different forms of mobility, new employmentrelationships at the domestic level and the interaction between expatriatesand local employees. In particular, this paper will suggest a typology forestablishing both stocks and flows of resources in the model, and suggestoutcomes for the development of MNCs human resources architectures.