Cross-cultural adjustment among immigrant executives

Moving to a new country and having to adjust to its culture is often traumatic for immigrants, as they experience intense emotional and physical stresses stemming from new roles and rules in their familial and workplace relationships. This study examined sociocultural and psychological factors that were part of immigrant executive’s cross-cultural adjustment experiences. Specifically, this dissertation sought to: 1) elucidate the decisions that prompted elite professionals to move to Canada, 2) examine participants’ stories associated with their pre- and post-moving experiences and relocation challenges, 3) identify coping strategies immigrant executives used to manage their personal and professional lives successfully, and 4) pinpoint suggestions and recommendations these executives had for other elite professionals thinking of moving to Canada, and for counsellors working with such clients. To best achieve my purpose, the following dissertation explores the rationale for using qualitative research approaches with particular reference to narrative as a method and theoretical frame work to better understand the feelings, experiences, expectations, and yearnings of six male immigrant executives/CEOs/managers, and to explore the complexities and difficulties embedded in their life and work in their new country.Education, Faculty ofGraduat