Influences of expatriate managerial styles on host-country nationals’ turnover intention

This study identifies two managerial styles of expatriates (authoritative and social), and analyzes their relationship with the turnover intention of host-country nationals (HCNs). Utilizing social capital theory, we examine the mediating effects of organizational goal clarity and managerial credibility. Analyzing a sample of 475 HCNs from 19 foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in China, we find that the authoritative style is negatively associated with HCNs’ perceptions of managerial credibility and positively associated with HCNs’ turnover intention; conversely, the social style is positively associated with HCNs’ perceptions of goal clarity and managerial credibility and negatively associated with turnover intention. Managerial implications of the test results are discussed.