What is the most common cause of failure in international assignments?

The inability of dependents to adjust is recognized as the most common cause of failure in international assignments. When employees move to a new country for work, the success of their assignment often relies not only on the employee's ability to adapt to the new work environment but also significantly on how well their family members, particularly spouses and children, acclimate to the new surroundings.

If dependents struggle to adjust, it can lead to stress and dissatisfaction that may adversely affect the employee's performance and commitment. Families facing challenges such as cultural differences, language barriers, and isolation can place additional pressure on the employee, potentially leading to a premature end to the assignment. An effective relocation program should include support for the entire family to help ease this transition, providing resources such as cultural training, language classes, and social integration initiatives.

Other factors, such as inadequate compensation, insufficient job orientation, and incomplete paperwork, while certainly important and impactful, are not as consistently cited as the primary reason for overall assignment failure as the adjustment issues faced by family members. Thus, addressing the challenges faced by dependents is crucial for the success of international assignments.