Author, Institution: Irma Banevičienė, Kaunas University of Technology
Science area, field of science: Social Sciences, Management, S003
Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Vilmantė Kumpikaitė-Valiūnienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Research Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luisa Helena Ferreira Pinto (University of Porto, Portugal, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Dissertation Defence Board of Management Science Field:
Prof. Dr. Mantas Vilkas (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Management, S003) – chairperson
Prof. Dr. Rūta Čiutienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Prof. Dr. Bernadeta Goštautaitė (ISM University of Management and Economics, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Prof. Dr. Mila Lazarova (SFU Beedie School of Business, Canada, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Prof. Dr. Asta Pundzienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Management, S003)
Dissertation defence meeting will be at Rectorate Hall of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio 73-402, Kaunas)
The doctoral dissertation is available at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (Gedimino 50, Kaunas) and on the internet: I. Banevičienė el. dissertation.pdf
© I. Banevičienė, 2025 “The text of the thesis may not be copied, distributed, published, made public, including by making it publicly available on computer networks (Internet), reproduced in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical or other means. Pursuant to Article 25(1) of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights of the Republic of Lithuania, a person with a disability who has difficulties in reading a document of a thesis published on the Internet, and insofar as this is justified by a particular disability, shall request that the document be made available in an alternative form by e-mail to doktorantura@ktu.lt.”
Annotation: The dissertation explores the adjustment of self-initiated expatriates (SIEs)—professionals who independently relocate abroad in pursuit of career, lifestyle, or personal goals- through multilevel study. While traditional research has focused on assigned expatriates sent by multinational corporations, this study highlights the growing population of SIEs and the complexity of their adjustment due to limited organizational support. Addressing this research gap, the dissertation investigates country-, organization-, and individual-level factors influencing SIEs’ adjustment, through four theoretical frameworks: Person–Environment Fit, Person–Organization Fit, Signaling Theory, and Similarity–Attraction Theory. Empirically, the study combines a hybrid literature review with qualitative and quantitative analyses across multiple contexts (Lithuania, Estonia, the USA). Findings reveal that contextual conditions, organizational culture, and supervisor experience significantly shape SIEs’ adjustment outcomes. The dissertation contributes to theory by extending established frameworks through a multilevel analytical approach and offers practical insights for policymakers, organizational leaders, and HR professionals to improve expatriate integration, support systems, and inclusive HRM practices in emerging host countries.