Expatriate Performance Appraisal in U.S. Multinational Firms

This exploratory study examines empirically expatriate performance appraisal (EPA) practices for U.S. multinational firms and assesses how such practices relate to the perceived accuracy of EPAs. From a sample of U.S. multinationals, the results suggest that a balanced set of raters from host and home countries and more frequent appraisals relate positively to perceived accuracy of EPAs. The data suggest, however, that most respondent firms did not follow these practices. In addition, the use of standardized and customized EPA evaluation forms relates negatively to perceived EPA accuracy. Implications of these exploratory findings for research and practice are also discussed.