Episode Description
In this episode, Ben explores the concept of psychological contracts and why they are central to understanding success and failure in global mobility assignments. The episode explains what psychological contracts are, how they form, and why they are particularly fragile in expatriate contexts. Drawing on current research and ongoing work in this area, it highlights why managing expectations is just as important as managing policies and processes.

What This Episode Covers
• what psychological contracts are and how they differ from formal contracts

• how unwritten expectations shape employee behavior and commitment

• why expatriate assignments intensify psychological contracts

• key moments where psychological contracts are most vulnerable in global mobility

• why many global mobility challenges are relational rather than technical

Key Insight
Many global mobility problems are not caused by poor policy or weak processes, but by misaligned or unspoken expectations. Psychological contract breaches can undermine trust, commitment, and performance long before issues become visible in formal metrics.

Why This Matters
As global mobility becomes more complex and less linear, organisations that understand and actively manage psychological contracts will be better positioned to retain talent, support expatriates effectively, and create sustainable mobility programs.

Host
Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®.

Subscribe
Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — TheMasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes that connect research, insight, and real-world global mobility practice.

Episode Description
In this episode, Benjamin Bader reflects on what global mobility really needs as organisations move into 2026. Rather than focusing on disruption or the next big trend, the episode argues that the coming year is about direction, focus, and strategic clarity. It explores how global mobility functions can move from constant stretch toward more intentional, sustainable ways of working.

What This Episode Covers
• why 2026 is about direction rather than disruption

• the limits of continuously stretching global mobility teams

• the importance of focus and clear prioritisation

• why judgment matters alongside policy and process

• capability, credibility, and confidence as key differentiators

• moving from reactive delivery to intentional strategy

Key Insight
2026 is not about doing more in global mobility. It is about doing things differently. The shift from stretch to strategy requires clearer priorities, stronger judgment, and more space for evidence-based reflection.

Why This Matters
As expectations of global mobility continue to rise, teams that create focus, build capability, and articulate their value clearly will be far better positioned to influence talent and business decisions in the year ahead.

Host
Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®.

Subscribe
Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — TheMasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes that connect evidence, insight, and real-world global mobility practice.

Episode Description
In this episode, Ben introduces and discusses a well-known academic study on cultural distance and expatriate failure rates by Arup Varma and Chun Wang. Rather than focusing on whether cultural distance matters, the episode explores when it matters — and what organisations can actually do to reduce failure risk in global mobility assignments.

What This Episode Covers
• why cultural distance is often misunderstood in global mobility

• how poor adjustment and premature return are used as indicators of expatriate failure

• why cultural distance only becomes a major risk under certain conditions

• the role of expatriate selection and performance management in reducing failure rates

• how organisational practices can amplify or mitigate cultural challenges

Key Takeaways
• cultural distance is not destiny — it amplifies existing weaknesses rather than creating problems on its own

• performance management plays a critical role in assignment success, especially in culturally distant contexts

• the greater the distance, the more intentional and structured expatriate management needs to be

Why This Matters
This episode shifts the conversation away from blaming culture and toward examining organisational responsibility. For global mobility leaders, the findings highlight the importance of strong management practices in turning culturally challenging assignments into successful ones.

Referenced Study
Wang, C. H., & Varma, A. (2019). Cultural distance and expatriate failure rates: the moderating role of expatriate management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 30(15), 2211–2230. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2017.1315443

Host
Hosted by Benjamin Bader, Professor of International HRM and co-founder of MasteringGM®.

Subscribe
Subscribe to Evidence, Insight, Impact — The MasteringGM® Podcast for short, focused episodes that connect evidence, insight, and real-world global mobility practice.