The document discusses how globalization is affecting human resource management practices across different countries. It examines trends in HRM in five countries and how organizations are instituting consistent corporate cultures globally. Some of the challenges in globalizing HR functions include variations in social and economic conditions between locations and resistance to change. Many organizations are standardizing assessment, compensation and development practices or sharing best practices between locations to address these challenges. The use of expatriate assignments is also discussed, including the costs associated and characteristics sought for these roles.