When east meets west: A five-stage curve adaptation model of Chinese expatriates in Portugal

• Autor(a) principal: Jun Yang
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/29859
• topic: Chinese expatriate; Diferença cultural -- Cultural difference; Cultural adaptation; Portugal; China; Expatriado Chinês; Adaptação intercultural

Portugal is one of the popular golden visa destinations for Chinese nationals; the number of Chinese businesses as well as expatriates in Portugal has also increased significantly in recent years as Portugal cooperated with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. However, due to cultural differences, cross-cultural adaptation becomes a significant challenge for these Chinese expatriates. This study aims to explore the cultural adaptation of Chinese expatriates in Portugal. This study uses qualitative and semi-structured interview research methods to investigate the cultural adaptation process experienced by 12 Chinese expatriates in Portugal. By incorporating the cultural similarities and differences between China and Portugal suggested by Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions into the cultural adaptation (adjustment) process of Chinese expatriates in Portugal, this study came up with a holistic five-stage cultural adaptation that best reflects the complexities of cross-cultural adaptation. By recognizing the cultural differences at each stage, organizations and expatriates can more effectively manage the challenges and promote a successful cross-cultural experience. This study provides practical implications for the key cultural adaptation skills and strategies required for Chinese expatriates working in Portugal. The findings of this study enrich the literature on cultural adaptation.