Effects of self-monitoring on technical, contextual, and assignment-specific performance - A study of cross-national work performance ratings

This study investigates the relationship between self-monitoring and multidimensional performance ratings of global assignees. It was hypothesized that supervisors' performance ratings of expatriate subordinates would depend on three factors: (a) individual differences in self-monitoring, (b) supervisor-subordinate national similarity, and (c) the dimension of performance being rated (technical, contextual, or expatriate-specific). Analysis of variance results from 78 supervisor/subordinate dyads indicated significant interactions among these three factors. The significant interaction for the contextual performance dimension suggests that high self-monitors were rated more favorably by supervisors of the same nationality. Low self-monitors' ratings were somewhat less affected by rater-ratee national similarity. Self-monitoring also had a significant main effect on ratings of assignment-specific performance. These results suggest self-monitoring personality has differential effects across performance dimensions and rater context. Future research implications are provided for examining the relationship between personality and job performance dimensions. Practical recommendations for the performance management of global assignees are provided.