Training Expatriate Engineering Professionals

Abstract

During the 1980s U.S. engineering and construction firms have not been securing as many overseas contracts as they had been acquiring in the past. Ideas have developed during the past decade on what types of programs would help U.S. engineering and construction firms regain their dominant position in the world marketplace. This paper presents information pertaining to the lack of competitiveness U.S. firms are experiencing in overseas markets and discusses how cross‐cultural training of engineering professionals, before sending them on foreign assignments, relates to a firm's competitiveness. This paper discusses the merits and importance of cross‐cultural training programs for U.S. engineering professionals and the areas that need to be addressed by engineering managers.