REPORT: OUTLINE OF RESEARCH METHODS TO BE USED IN INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPATRIATE REMUNERATION IN (name a multi national organisation- working

title only) AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PREFERENCE OF PARTICULAR METHOD. TO: xxxxxxx FROM: xxxxxx DATE: xxxxxx CONTENTS: a. Research Aims and Objectives b. Critical review of the key Academic sources used and the main issues raised in support of the Aims and Objectives. c. An explanation of, and justification for, the research methodology. d. An explanation of the methods used for data analysis. e. Ethical issues involved. f. Limitations to the research INTRODUCTION This report aims at outlining research methods to be used in investigating the effectiveness of expatriate remuneration in (name a multi national organisation), and the justification for the preference of particular methods. RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To critically analyse the literature on expatriate remuneration in multinationals with reference to effectiveness. To specifically investigate the effectiveness of expatriate remuneration in (name a multi national organisation- working title only) Remuneration Survey (Market Pricing) - The process of determining pay levels for specific jobs in a defined external market to assess the competitiveness of our organizations pay levels relative to others competing for the same human resource talent - Feedback will provide a foundation for the development of a report on the effectiveness of expatriate remuneration in multinationals

To make recommendations on effectiveness of expatriate remuneration in (name a multi national organisation- working title only) based on the investigation and research results

CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE KEY ACADEMIC SOURCES USED AND THE MAIN ISSUES RAISED IN SUPPORT OF THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Research on the compensation of expatriates is relatively scarce and relies heavily on anecdotal evidence (Bonache, 2006; Harvey, 1993). This section of the report will involve a literature review of publications on leadership qualities and expatriate remuneration. The review will focus on challenges of expatriate compensation and a comparative survey in a multinational company (Suutari & Tornikoski 2001; Suutari, V. 1996). Included in the review will be references from publications, both researchbased and descriptive in nature. A major focus of the review will be on the development of the literature that fully reflects the conceptual theoretical framework/models that guide the study, the research methodology, the analysis of data, and the summary of the study. ACADEMIC SOURCES

According to the research brief, NO external primary data will be needed for the research, and the same applies to internal primary data. Research is of two forms: Quantitative and Qualitative (F.C. Lunenburg & B.J. Irby 2008). It is thus important to understand whether the research is quantitative and/or qualitative in order to identify the appropriate sources of data and subsequently method to conduct the said research. Quantitative Research deals with numerical measurements (i.e. quantities). Quantitative approaches aim to test hypotheses, and usually to identify numerical differences between groups. By contrast, qualitative Research deals with how people understand their experiences (i.e. qualities). Qualitative data aims to explore meaning, and might well be chosen for the investigation of issues which, for ethical, practical or epistemological reasons, are difficult to 'measure.' For the purpose of this report, these two approaches to research will be used to complement one another. Furthermore, some methods (e.g. Qmethodology) actually fuse elements from both approaches. Distinctive features of quantitative and qualitative research: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 'Simple' numeric data Measurement Explanation Prediction QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 'Complex' rich data Meaning Understanding Interpretation

Generalisable account Representative population sample Hypothesis-testing Claims objectivity Closed system (experimental control)

Contextual account Purposive/ representative perspective sample Exploratory Accepts subjectivity Open system (ecological validity)

SOURCES:

Research material will come from both internal and/or external sources. This includes written documents such as: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) Notices Minutes of Meetings Reports to Management/ Shareholders Scripts of speeches Books Journals Magazine articles Desk top research Administrative and public records, and Industry expert opinion.

Other sources included non-written documents like tape and video recordings. Academic journal articles will be accessed through electronic databases and library resources of University of Wales, Newport. According to Saunders et al (1997), documentary secondary data are often used in research projects that also use primary data collection methods. Secondary data will assist significantly in understanding relevant theories and problems as well as identifying the characteristics of expatriate remuneration in multinationals, which will eventually build the background to examine interaction between the expatriate remuneration and the effectiveness AN EXPLANATION OF, AND JUSTIFICATION FOR, THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This research project will focus on both qualitative and quantitative research. As a result, the research may borrow techniques from other methodologies. The role of human resource systems in job applicant decision process will play a big part as we evaluate the effectiveness of expatriates (Bretz, R.D. Jr & Judge, T.A. 1994). METHODOLOGY USED IN INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPATRIATE REMUNERATION IN MULTI NATIONAL ORGANISATION

The methods chosen to carry out this study are semi-structured and structured interviews, focus groups transcripts, field notes, observation records and other personal records, research-related documents, diaries/ written accounts, case study, literature review, and documentary evidence as appropriate. Because of the number of issues raised by the research questions/themes and the need to associate them with current expatriate remuneration in multinationals, I decided not only to restrict myself to one methodology. PROCESS: a) Comparison of relative expatriate remuneration across the sector b) Comparison of relative expatriate output in relation to remuneration c) Clean, Aggregate and Analyze Data provided/collected from all sources mentioned in this report d) Trends noted e) Results of the research reported- hard copy/electronically Edwards & Talbot (1999) have noted that a case study can be used in a practitioner research to illustrate a set of principles, to provide some detailed description of a topic of interest, or to explore a field of study and gather information on it. The case study to be used in this research will attempt to illustrate effectiveness of expatriate remuneration in multinationals. It will attempt to explore the field of study, as defined in the title, and gather information on it. In order to do this exploration, data will be collected and assimilated from formal and informal observations. McCaston (1998) has suggested that data can be obtained from a representative selection of the population by semi-structured and structured interviews, focus groups transcripts, field notes, observation records and other personal, which is my intention with the interview themes. Since the focus of the research is not a well- researched topic, I need to get some background information accessed from a distance. As Edwards & Talbot (1999) point out, interview themes are useful, although on the minus side they provide neither much depth nor a good return. However, external validations of insights, reflections and internal discourses will be sought. McNiff (2002) takes an interpretative approach by emphasising the need to set criteria by which to judge performance/improvement. To this end I will use a variety of other data sources in addition to the sources already mentioned in this report. Interview Themes

This will be sent to identified industry experts internally and externally in order to get a broad picture of expatriate remuneration in multinationals. The themes will be sent by post and/or electronically. Data gathered will partly be quantitative and partly qualitative, answering research questions relating to expatriate remuneration in general. This data will help to give some triangulation to the case study without which it would be even harder to assess the findings. Inevitably, the data will be presented with unintentional bias on the part of the researcher. Other justification for the research methodology a) Reduction in Resource Requirements By using the above methodologies, we will foster the companys capacity to make major saving in terms of resources, time and money. Data collection can be expensive; using secondary data cuts some of that cost associated with data collection. It also gives more time to think about theoretical aims and substantive issues, as data would have already been collected prior to the research, hence spending less time and effort analysing and interpreting the data. b) Provision for Comparative and Contextual Data The methodology will help link remuneration with the business strategy; secondary data can be used to compare against data collected. This facilitates the placing of findings within a more general context or alternatively, triangulating the findings. c) Results in Unforeseen Discoveries Re-analysing data can also reveal unforeseen or unexpected issues. d) Nature of Research study The study was restricted to secondary research only. Qualitative Pre-test with Expects

It is generally recognised that data collection should never begin without an adequate pre-test of the content and physical appearance of items (Churchill 1995). The project supervisor qualitatively tests the content validity of the interview theme design. AN EXPLANATION OF THE METHODS USED FOR DATA ANALYSIS According to J.W. Creswell (2007), there are many different kinds of qualitative and quantitative data analysis (e.g. Discourse Analysis, I.P.A, Narrative Analysis, Grounded Theory, and so on). Each of these applies a

different theoretical interest to the interpretation of the data that are collected. To begin with, we will look at what they have in common. Most methods of qualitative data analysis tend to share some similar analytic processes. These involve the researcher going through the data, reading it and annotating it, identifying particular objects of interests. This is often called coding. Unlike quantitative coding, which means applying preconceived codes (all planned before the researcher even collects data) to the data, qualitative coding means creating the codes as you study your data" (Charmaz, 1995). As codes are accumulated, we will begin to sort them into themes. This represents a movement from the particular (line-by-line codes) to the general (patterns within those codes). Similarly, the accounts of these themes which emerge represent a movement from the descriptive (e.g. summarising what the interview respondent says, or does, in a series of codes) to the interpretative (making some attempt to identify what it all means). These processes are typical of what is sometimes called a thematic analysis. This is a kind of generic qualitative approach to data analysis. Most kinds of qualitative analysis are actually thematic in some sense (J.W. Creswell 2005). Note that a semi-structured interview, for example, can be analysed quantitatively - you can go through it, and count the number of times that certain words appear, if you so desire (e.g. a content analysis), and this would be consistent with hypothesis testing. More often than not, however, we choose to collect interview data because we are interested in exploring our participants frameworks of meaning. It therefore makes sense to apply a more open-ended approach to them. Qualitative researchers present and justify their results in different terms to those used by quantitative researchers. The key criteria for qualitative reports are twofold. Firstly, it is important that their interpretations are transparent (i.e. that the reader can see very clearly how the researchers' interpretations of the data relate to the data. Secondly, it is important that the interpretations are plausible (i.e. that the account which the researcher offers the reader is persuasive). There is no 'right' interpretation of any qualitative data set, but some interpretations may be more persuasive than others. Typically, this means that qualitative reports include excerpts of raw data, in the form of extended quotations, alongside the researchers' accounts of them (A. Strauss & J. Corbin 1990). This allows the reader to make a kind of 'validity check' between the data and the researchers account. For

many researchers, this has the added virtue of giving the participants a 'voice' in the published researcher. Methods to choose from:

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

This is an experiential qualitative approach to research in psychology and the human, health and social sciences. According to Reid, K., Flowers, P. & Larkin, M. (2005), this approach involves psychological qualitative research offering insights into how a given person, in a given context, makes sense of a given phenomenon. Usually these phenomena relate to experiences of some personal significance - such as a major life event, or the development of an important relationship. Distinct from other approaches because of its combination of psychological, interpretative and idiographic components. (Briefly show how this relates to topic)

Discourse Analysis

According to Gee, J. P. (2005), discourse analysis involves a number of approaches to analyse written, spoken, signed language use or any significant semiotic event. Discourse Analysis is a term used to describe a range of research approaches that focus on the use of language. There are many different types of discourse analysis such as conversation analysis, discursive psychology, critical discourse analysis and Foucauldian discourse analysis. Each of these has its own assumptions, emphasis and methods but the key overlapping interest is in the way meaning is constructed in communication. Discourse analysis has been used to understand a wide range of texts including natural speech, professional documentation, political rhetoric, interview or focus group material, internet communication, journals and broadcast media (Briefly show how this relates to topic)

Foucauldian Discourse Analysis

Foucauldian discourse analysis draws on the ideas of Foucault, often considering the development and changes of discourses over time. Foucauldian discourse analysis is generally concerned with the webs of power relationships that are enacted and constructed through discourse (Briefly show how this relates to topic)

Narrative Analysis

A method of qualitative research in which the researcher listens to the stories of the research subjects, attempting to understand the relationships between the experiences of the individuals and their social framework (Jonas, 2005).

Narrative inquiry is the interdisciplinary study of the activities involved in generating and analyzing stories of life experiences (e.g., life histories, narrative interviews, journals, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies) and reporting that kind of research (Schwandt, 2007) (Briefly show how this relates to topic)

Correlation Analysis

Correlation Analysis determines the extent to which changes in the value of an attribute (such as length of employment, amount of output) are associated with changes in another attribute (such as salary). The data for a correlation analysis consists of two input columns. Each column contains values for one of the attributes of interest. Correlation Analysis can calculate various measures of association between the two input columns. You can select more than one statistic to calculate for a given pair of input columns. The data in the input columns also can be treated as a sample obtained from a larger population, and Correlation Analysis can be used to test whether the attributes are correlated in the population. In this context, the null hypothesis asserts that the two attributes are not correlated, and the alternative hypothesis asserts that the attributes are correlated (Briefly show how this relates to topic) Cleaning and organizing the data for analysis- Data Preparation

Data Preparation involves checking or logging-in the data coming from a number of different sources at different times. There is need to set up a procedure for logging the information and keeping track of it until when ready to do a comprehensive data analysis. It is also critical that the data analyst retains the original data records for a reasonable period of time. A database for logging incoming data is a critical component in good research record-keeping. As soon as data is received it should be screened for accuracy. In some circumstances doing this right away will allow one to go back to the sample to clarify any problems or errors. Assuring that the data collection process does not contribute inaccuracies will help assure the overall quality of subsequent analyses. The database structure is then created. This is the manner in which one intends to store the data for the study so that it can be accessed in subsequent data analyses. Once the data have been entered it is almost always necessary to transform the raw data into variables that are usable in the analyses. Describing the data Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive statistics are used to describe the basic features of the data in a study. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures. Descriptive statistics are typically distinguished from inferential statistics. With descriptive statistics we can simply describe what is or what the data shows. Testing hypotheses and models- inferential statistics

With inferential statistics, you are trying to reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone. Here, we have to concentrate on inferential statistics that are useful in experimental and quasiexperimental research design or in program outcome evaluation. Perhaps one of the simplest inferential tests we can use is when we want to compare the average performance of two groups on a single measure to see if there is a difference. Whenever we wish to compare the average performance between two groups you should consider the T-test for differences between groups. Most of the major inferential statistics come from a general family of statistical models known as the General Linear Model. This includes the t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), regression analysis, and many of the multivariate methods like factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, discriminate function analysis, and so on. ETHICAL ISSUES All confidential data will be presented in an anonymous way, and observing ethical standards. Methodology will be ethically appropriate, meaning:

Informed consent Right to withdraw Sensitivity Representation Confidentiality Anonymity Protection and support

LIMITATIONS TO THE RESEARCH The research methodology is subjected to several limitations. Firstly, the resources, time and professional experience of the researcher are limited. Then secondly, the resource material in relation to expatriate remuneration and its effectiveness is limited. Time and research scope (no primary data needed) affected the choice of methods. Finally, an obvious limitation to the study is the small sample. It does not allow for more sophisticated statistical analyses. But our main objective is

in illustrating a method rather than deriving definitive results, so the small sample does not seriously affect our contribution.

References A. Strauss, J. Corbin (1990), "Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques", Sage Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, . Bonache, J. (2006), "The compensation of expatriates: a review and a future research agenda", in Stahl, G.K., Bjrkman, I. (Eds),Handbook of

Research in International Human Resource Management, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp.158-75. Bretz, R.D. Jr, Judge, T.A. (1994), "The role of human resource systems in job applicant decision process", Journal of Management, Vol. 20 No.3, pp.531-51. Charmaz, K. (1995) Grounded theory, in Smith, J. A. , Harr, R. and van Langenhove, L. (eds.) Rethinking Methods in Psychology, London, Sage. Churchill, Gilbert A. (1995), Marketing Research: Methodological Foundations. Forth Worth: The Dryden Press Edwards, A. and Talbot, R. (1999) The Hard-Pressed Researcher: A research handbook for the caring professions. Essex: Pearson Education limited F.C. Lunenburg, B.J. Irby (2008), "Writing a successful thesis or dissertation: Tips and strategies for students in the social and behavioral sciences", Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA, Gee, J. P. (2005). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method. London: Routledge. Harvey, M. (1993), "Empirical evidence of recurring international compensation problems", Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 24 No.4, pp.785-99. Jonas, W. B. 2005. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 11(4). Elsevier: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc J.W. Creswell (2005), "Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research", Prentice Hall, New Jersey, . J.W. Creswell (2007), "Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches", Sage Publications Inc, London, . McCaston, M. Katherine (1998), Tips for Collecting, Reviewing, and Analyzing Secondary Data. Partnership & Household Livelihood Security Unit (PHLS) McNiff, J. with J. Whitehead (2002) Action Research: Principles and Practice (2nd Edition) London, RoutledgeFalmer. Reid, K., Flowers, P. & Larkin, M. (2005) Exploring lived experience: An introduction to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The Psychologist, 18:1, 20-23

Saunders et al (1997), Research Methods for Business Students, London Financial Times, Pitman. Schwandt, T. A. (2007) "Literary turn (in social science) and Writing strategies. The Sage dictionary of qualitative inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 3rd ed., pp. 179-80, 322 Suutari, V. (1996), "Leadership ideologies among European managers: a comparative survey in a multinational company", Scandinavian Journal of Management, Vol. 12 No.4, pp.389-404. Suutari, V., Tornikoski, C. (2001), "The challenge of expatriate compensation: the sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction among expatriates", International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 12 No.3, pp.389-404.