A taxonomy of internationally mobile managers

Research on expatriates indicates that substantial differences exist within internationally active employees. Several typologies of expatriates have been suggested to account for this diverseness. However, empirical evidence on the accuracy of these classification schemes is scarce. On the basis of these research efforts, we introduce a data-based taxonomy of internationally mobile managers. By means of sequence analysis, we derive four career patterns from the curriculi vitae of 202 German managers. These patterns are built on the dimensions mobility and duration of the stays abroad. We further show that these patterns differ with regard to various individual and organizational variables. On the basis of these findings, we argue that expatriation career management practices and responsibilities need to be differentiated.