Expatriate adjustment in the 21st century: rethinking person-environment fit theory and social learning theory in the digitalized and AI-supported workplace

Abstract

Purpose The integration of digitally induced work modes and emerging technological tools has the potential to transform how expatriates adjust. In this article, we shed light on the implications of workplace digitalization for intercultural job adjustment. Design/methodology/approach We develop a conceptual model of expatriate adjustment and focus on two pertinent theoretical perspectives, i.e. person-environment fit theory and social learning theory, to examine how digitalization changes the context and processes of adjustment. Findings Our propositions delineate the opportunities and limitations of workplace digitalization for expatriate adjustment. Modal, temporal, and spatial flexibility, as well as digital support tools, enable faster, yet more perfunctory intercultural job adjustment. Deeper behavioral transformations are less likely to result from digitalized modes of working and learning. Originality/value Against the background of pervasive workplace digitalization, we revisit foundational theories used to explain expatriate adjustment and connect them with contemporary technological advancements. This leads us to introduce the concepts of dynamic fit to capture how expatriates increasingly regulate their exposure to digitally enabled work environments and human-independent social learning to explain technology-supported learning processes that occur with reduced reliance on direct interpersonal interaction.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Personnel Review, 2026 · DOI ↗