Case Study on the adaptable social identity of expatriates and the effect of the local culture of Saudi Arabia

Main Article Content

Dr. Anisha Thomas, Dr. Karissa Thomas

Abstract

Saudi Arabia has been undergoing social and economic reform as part of the 2030 Vision. The expatriate nature within Saudi Arabian organizations has been impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The impacts of human resource management and development in Saudi Arabia have created a flowing back of expatriates to their home countries. However, a large crowd had stayed back amidst the issues.  This research focuses on exploring expatriates' social identity in the context of cross-cultural adaptation, identity transformation.


Purposiveness narrative analysis was to understand expatriates' impact in Saudi Arabia and cross-cultural adaptation and identity transformation perspectives. Ten participants were purposively sampled and selected. Based on the case studies, the expatriates' life stories were developed by narrative analysis. The experiences of expatriates provided a comparable narration on the social identity of expatriates. Cross-cultural adaptation and identity transformation were discussed in the frame of a narrative profile. The effect of the Saudi Arabian culture on expatriate's life is also discussed in the research work. The study results concluded the complexities of expatriate adaptation.

Article Details

Section
Articles