Expatriate Construction Professionals’ Performance in International Construction Projects: The Role of Cross-Cultural Adjustment and Job Burnout

Abstract

The performance of expatriate construction professionals (EXCPs) has become increasingly critical for the success of international construction projects. This study investigated the role of job burnout and cross-cultural adjustment in predicting EXCPs’ performance. Drawing on the job demands-resources model, a comprehensive framework was developed to illustrate the relationships among cultural intelligence, stressors, expatriate management practices, cross-cultural adjustment, job burnout, and performance. Data were collected through a survey of Chinese EXCPs working in various host countries, and the proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that expatriate management practices and cross-cultural adjustment have a more substantial motivational impact on performance than do the negative impacts of stressors and job burnout. Additionally, cultural intelligence is significantly associated with stressors, expatriate management practices, cross-cultural adjustment, and job burnout. This study makes a valuable contribution to the expatriate literature and offers strategies for dual-process management to enhance EXCPs’ performance in international construction projects.