THE ANALYSIS OF INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND ADAPTATION APPROACHES OF EXPATRIATES : CASE STUDY OF JABABEKA AND LIPPO CIKARANG

Abstract

Indonesia has good growth economy and resources. Therefore, a lot of foreigners come to Indonesia in order to build their multinational company, especially in Jababeka, Cikarang. Jababeka is a residential area with a self-contained industrial park that has great potential and opportunity to be an independent city. Now, Jababeka becomes multiculturalism city where many expatriates live and work in there. This objective of this study is to analyze the intercultural sensitivity of expatriates in Cikarang and find out the most needed and used approaches that expatriates apply to be able to adapt cross-cultural in new environment. In this study, the researcher discusses the ethnocentrism level of intercultural sensitivity based on theory of Dr. Milton Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), so they are able to know the most needed approaches that they can apply to adjust their self in new environment well. The researcher only analyzes the 3 stages of ethnocentrism level because expatriates must pass the early stage before they reach adaptation of cross-cultural stage in intercultural sensitivity. This study is quantitative research that uses Factor Analysis to determine the dominant level of intercultural sensitivity and the top 5 approaches that expatriates use. The research did survey by spreading questionnaire and 70 respondents participated in this research. The result of this survey is expatriates in Cikarang are still in defense stage of intercultural sensitivity. People in this stage are more recognizing cultural differences’ existence in their life, but they try to build defense against cultural differences. Moreover, the respondents have already chosen the top 5 approaches of cross-cultural adaptation that they mostly needed and used, which are a) language training program, b) understanding and visiting historical culture of host country, c) cross-cultural communication training program, d) socialization with more people that have others culture and e) culture awareness training program. Based on result of this research, the researcher recommends for expatriates to open up to the new experiences especially learning about the host country’s characteristics (custom, traditions, approaches of living) and often socialize with local people. Not only from expatriates, management and host country also have to help expatriates to adapt cross-cultural in their new environment by holding training program that is needed by expatriates, learn expatriates’ culture and take care expatriates’ family members. All of part has big and important role to make successful cross-cultural adaptation for expatriates in host country.