This article develops a conceptual framework to assist in determining the value to be gained from long-term international assignments. By integrating several streams of research, we present a new framework of expatriate return on investment (ROI) for global firms, which both builds on frameworks offered by other scholars and is informed by recent developments and emerging directions in global mobility research and practice. In doing so, we identify relevant questions to guide future research and draw implications of the framework for theory, research, and practice.

1. Author's personal copy
Manag Int Rev (2011) 51:897–919
DOI 10.1007/s11575-011-0104-1
FOCUSED ISSUE: 50 YEARS OF MIR
Global Mobility in the 21st Century
Conceptualising Expatriate Return on Investment
in Global Firms
Yvonne McNulty · Helen De Cieri
Abstract:
0 This article develops a conceptual framework to assist in determining the value to be gained
from long-term international assignments.
0 By integrating several streams of research, we present a new framework of expatriate return
on investment (ROI) for global firms, which both builds on frameworks offered by other
scholars and is informed by recent developments and emerging directions in global mobility
research and practice. In doing so, we identify relevant questions to guide future research and
draw implications of the framework for theory, research, and practice.
Keywords: Expatriate ·∙ ROI ·∙ Global mobility ·∙ International assignments ·∙ Global staffing
Received: 29.11.2010 / Revised: 30.06.2011 / Accepted: 13.09.2011 / Published online: 04.11.2011
© Gabler-Verlag 2011
Prof. H. De Cieri () · Dr. Y. McNulty
Department of Management, Monash University,
Caulfield East, Australia
e-mail: helen.decieri@monash.edu