Answer to Question 1
One recent trend has been the use of short-term expatriate assignments. Instead of using two- or three-year assignments, the length has been shortened. The duration can be from several weeks to a year with the family left behind (instead of accompanying the expatriate in longer assignments). There are cost savings to the firm and fewer expatriates renege on their contract (perhaps as a result of less trauma on the family). In addition, with more dual career families, the spouse can continue to work at home while the expatriate is away on assignment. The downside is that it takes time to learn a foreign culture and the expatriate may leave for home before that is accomplished and has made his or her mark. If the assignment has to be lengthened, the family is often unhappy and shocked especially the parent left behind parenting alone.
Answer to Question 2
D