TITLE:
The Anchors of the Social Representation of Tunisia: The Case of Expatriate Managers
AUTHORS:
Héla Bach-Hamba Lazrak
KEYWORDS:
Social Representation, Anchoring, Expatriate Manager, Host Country
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.13 No.1,
January
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research work is to analyze the origins of social representations that are anchored among expatriate managers about their host country in a context of global mobility of human resources. Given that very few studies on this subject have been carried out in Tunisia, qualitative research proved relevant. Forty-eight semi-directive interviews were conducted with expatriate executives working in Tunisia. They were transcribed and subjected to three types of analysis: a thematic analysis, an argumentative analysis and an analysis of discursive behaviour. The results revealed that representation systems are mainly determined by factors linked to the subject’s activity. Ideological and cultural-historical factors are limited. French leaders are pragmatic people who have a realistic approach in their evaluation. They value interactions based on real activities and facts rather than biases and prejudices.