Soo Min Toh

University of Toronto, Management, UTM, Faculty Member

Followers

Following

Co-authors

Public Views

InterestsView All (6)

Uploads

Papers by Soo Min Toh

Host country nationals as socializing agents: a social identity approach

by Soo Min Toh and Angelo S DeNisi

Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2007

... difference (comparative and normative fit) and the perceivers&amp;amp;amp;#x27; expectati... more ... difference (comparative and normative fit) and the perceivers&amp;amp;amp;#x27; expectations, motives, and goals (perceiver readiness)&amp;amp;amp;#x27; (Turner &amp;amp;amp;amp; Reynolds, 2004: 268 ... the growing body of research recognizing the potential importance of HCNs as socializing agents for expatriates (Aryee &amp;amp;amp;amp; Stone ...

Host Country National Reactions to Expatriate Pay Policies: A Model and Implications

by Soo Min Toh and Angelo S DeNisi

The Academy of Management Review, 2003

We examine the referent selection process of host country national (HCN) employees. We outline th... more We examine the referent selection process of host country national (HCN) employees. We outline the conditions under which they are more likely to select expatriate colleagues as comparative referents and suggest that, when this occurs, they are likely to experience relative deprivation. We also highlight the role of national culture in the process. Our model shifts the focus of overseas assignments research from the expatriate to the HCN, and it also has important practical implications for multinational enterprises sending employees overseas.

Download

Social Categorization in Intergroup Contexts: Three Kinds of Self-Categorization

by Soo Min Toh and Geoffrey J Leonardelli

In reviewing self-categorization theory and the literature upon which it is based, we conclude th... more In reviewing self-categorization theory and the literature upon which it is based, we conclude that individuals’ attempts to form social categories could lead to three kinds of self-categorization. We label them intergroup categorization, ingroup categorization, and outgroup categorization. We review literature supporting these three types and argue that they can help to explain and organize the existing evidence. Moreover, we conclude that distinguishing these three kinds of self-categorization lead to novel predictions regarding social identity, social cognition, and groups. We offer some of those predictions by discussing their potential causes (building from optimal distinctiveness and security seeking literatures) and implications (on topics including prototype complexity, self-stereotyping, stereotype formation, intergroup behavior, dual identity, conformity and the psychological implications of perceiving uncategorized collections of people). This paper offers a platform from which to build theoretical and empirical advances in social identity, social cognition, and intergroup relations.

Download

The perspective of host country nationals in socializing expatriates: The importance of foreign-local relations

by Soo Min Toh and Geoffrey J Leonardelli

Failure to adapt is one of the most often cited reasons for the premature return of expatriate as... more Failure to adapt is one of the most often cited reasons for the premature return of expatriate assignees. This chapter reviews and builds on research that suggests that the expatriate socialization process involves multiple stakeholders. We introduce new theory on the process of expatriate socialization by adopting the host country national’s perspective, and taking into consideration social cognitions and organizational practice as important interactive influences on host country coworkers’ decision to act as potentially important socializing agents for expatriate newcomers. We discuss the consequences for multiple stakeholders when the socializing potential of host country nationals is overlooked. Our research has significant implications for how organizations and expatriates should approach expatriate socialization, particularly that the host country nationals’ role in the process needs to be taken more seriously.

Download

Perceiving expatriate coworkers as foreigners encourages aid: Social categorization and procedural justice together improve intergroup cooperation and dual identity

by Geoffrey J Leonardelli and Soo Min Toh

Psychological Science, Jan 1, 2011

We propose that social categorization can encourage particular forms of intergroup cooperation be... more We propose that social categorization can encourage particular forms of intergroup cooperation because it differentiates a group in need from a group that can give aid. Moreover, social categorization is most likely to occur when individuals perceive procedural justice (i.e., fair treatment) from authorities in a superordinate group that includes the individuals’ subgroup. Two field studies investigating relations between local and foreign coworkers tested not only this prediction, but also whether high social categorization and procedural justice would yield a dual identity, in which group members identify simultaneously with their social category and the superordinate group. Both studies supported our predictions: Local employees engaged a dual identity and offered knowledge to aid a foreign coworker’s adjustment more often when local-foreign categorization and procedural justice from organizational authorities were high than when these variables were low. These discoveries point to controllable mechanisms that enable intergroup cooperation, and our findings have important implications for intergroup aid, expatriate adjustment, immigration, and multiculturalism.

format_quoteProcedural justice and social categorization interact to predict dual identity: higher categorization relates negatively to superordinate identity with fair treatment.format_quote

Download

A Two-Nation Study of Host Country National Categorization of Female Expatriates-United States and India

Proceedings 4th Asian …, Jan 1, 2004

This study was designed to study the role of Host Country National categorization of female expat... more This study was designed to study the role of Host Country National categorization of female expatriate co-workers, in two samples -U.S., and India. Using data from 54 participants in the U.S. and 52 participants in India, we found that respondents from India categorized potential expatriate co-workers from the U.S. into in-group or out-group significantly more than respondents from the U.S. Further, we found that female expatriates from the U.S. are preferred by Indian HCNs as co-workers significantly more than male expatriates from the U.S. We discuss implications for organizations and offer suggestions for future research.

format_quoteIndian HCNs categorize expatriate co-workers significantly more as out-group members than U.S. HCNs (M = 4.23 vs. 3.68; p < .01).format_quote

Download

Perceptions of task cohesiveness and organizational support increase trust and information sharing between host country nationals and expatriate coworkers in Oman

Journal of World Business, Jan 1, 2011

... the construct of group cohesion – the attraction or liking that members have for their work g... more ... the construct of group cohesion – the attraction or liking that members have for their work group (Cota, Longman, Evans, Dion, &amp; Kilik ... with greater trust in the organization, trust among the employees, and behaviors that advance the interests of the organization ( [Korsgaard et al ...

Cultural constraints on the emergence of women as leaders

Journal of World Business, Jan 1, 2012

The Perspective of Host Country Nationals in Socializing Expatriates: The Importance of Foreign-Local Relations

rotman.utoronto.ca

A performance theory perspective on expatriate success: the role of self-efficacy and motivation

International Journal of Human …, Jan 1, 2011

Previous research on the expatriate experience has identified several unique individual and organ... more

Perceiving Expatriate Coworkers as Foreigners Encourages Aid Social Categorization and Procedural Justice Together Improve Intergroup Cooperation and Dual …

by Soo Min Toh and Geoffrey J Leonardelli

Psychological science, Jan 1, 2011

Host country nationals to the rescue: a social categorization approach to expatriate adjustment

The present study proposes a significant role for host country nationals (HCNs) in the expatriate... more The present study proposes a significant role for host country nationals (HCNs) in the expatriate adjustment process. Based on self-categorizaton theory, newcomer socialization research, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) research, and models of expatriate adjustment, I present a model proposing how social categorization processes influence HCNs' willingness to engage in adjustment-facilitating organizational citizenship behaviors (AOCBs). I further propose that these behaviors have a significant impact on expatriates' adjustment and in turn, other important jobrelated outcomes of the expatriate. Hypotheses were tested on 115 expatriates and 53

format_quoteExpatriates value spouse adjustment and local language proficiency over AOCBs from HCNs, highlighting differing perspectives.format_quote

Download

Doctoral student research as a creative endeavor

College Quarterly, Jan 1, 2005

Doctoral student research is explored as a creative activity. Hypotheses concerning several facto... more Doctoral student research is explored as a creative activity. Hypotheses concerning several factors associated with research activity are developed and tested using a sample of management doctoral students. Findings suggest that research-related goals provided by the dissertation chair and student information seeking efforts are both positively related to research activity and that information seeking partially mediates the effect of chair goals on research activity. In addition, the attainment of research products is influenced by the student's intrinsic motivation for research as well as his or her information seeking efforts. Further, research activity mediates the effect of information seeking on research products. The implications of these findings for doctoral students and faculty members are considered. College Quarterly -Winter 2005

Download

Ingratiation in job applications: impact on selection decisions

Journal of managerial psychology, Jan 1, 2006

Purpose -The purpose of present study is to examine the influence of impression management (IM) t... more Purpose -The purpose of present study is to examine the influence of impression management (IM) tactics (e.g. ingratiation) applied in job application letters on perceived qualifications and hiring recommendations. The study aims to build on recent research done in the interview context, by studying IM specifically in the written form pertaining to a job application. Design/methodology/approach -Data were gathered from 94 respondents asked to evaluate the job application letters of applicants for a mentoring program. IM was manipulated through the cover letter, such that, each subject received five cover letters, four of which engaged in ingratiation and one that had no ingratiation. Participants were required to evaluate the applicants' qualifications and make selection decisions. Findings -The results of the study were consistent with those of the interview context. More specifically, ingratiation led to significantly higher ratings of applicants, and self-focused tactics were more effective than other-focused tactics.

format_quoteIngratiation types significantly affected perceived overall qualifications (F=3357.68, p<0.001) in job applications, indicating strong influence on hiring outcomes.format_quote

Download

Host country nationals as socializing agents: A social identity approach

Journal of Organizational Behavior, Jan 1, 2007

Human resource configurations: Investigating fit with the organizational context

Journal of Applied …, Jan 1, 2008

The present study investigated how key organizational contextual factors relate to bundles of hum... more The present study investigated how key organizational contextual factors relate to bundles of human resource (HR) practices. In a two-phase study of a sample of 661 organizations representing a full range of industries and organizational size, the authors found that organizations use 1 of 5 HR bundles: cost minimizers, contingent motivators, competitive motivators, resource makers, and commitment maximizers. In addition, the authors showed that the organizations that use a given type of HR bundle may be distinguished by the organizational values they pursue and their organizational structure, thus suggesting that HR choices are related to the context within which organizations operate.

format_quoteThe five-cluster solution identified HR bundles focused on cost control, commitment, skill enhancement, and motivation, improving HR taxonomy understanding.format_quote

Download