From Globalization to Globality: A Profile of Chinese Returnees

In the past two decades, globalization is the key issue facing business, governments and social life of every citizen on earth. With the liberalization of trade, investment and a fast migrating population, globalization brings opportunity as well as problem. Globality is a new phenomenon, which is different from Globalization. It is a name for a new and different global reality in which business flows in every direction.  For example, recent trends showed the increasing number of Chinese managers (particularly those who had finished their management study or work abroad) replacing expatriate managers Sino-foreign JVs and WFOEs (Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises), taking senior management positions in government-related departments or simply starting their business based on entrepreneurship. However, research on cross-culture re-adjustment implies that employees feel frustration, depression and symptoms of culture shock upon their return to the home cultural settings (Hurn, 1999; Rodrigues, 1996). This calls for re-adjust to changes, such as home working and social environment (Forster, 2000; Black et al, 1992). In addition, the values of these returnees on human rights, job satisfaction and other key cultural value indicator may change. Based on the model of Hofstede cultural dimension theory, this research will focus on the returning Chinese managerial individuals¡¯ experience of international transfer, psychological and sociocultural re-adjustment issues in governments and business field in China.