Understanding the Underlying Challenges

When we’re asked these questions, we know that there’s often more going on than just what we’re asked. Professionals asking about policies often are struggling with their existing suite; companies looking to benchmark benefits may find themselves losing talent to competitors. For those having challenges in managing their program, we find that companies are really seeking help with determining how to better, if not optimally, design the Global Mobility function.

Debunking the Myth of an "Optimal" Mobility Design

This idea of an optimal design is a bit of a misnomer, as one universally optimal design does not exist. Each company has its own unique traits, like its goals, culture, and mission, that impact the role Mobility is needed to fill. In our experiences, we’ve found that if you compare several optimally established functions up against one another, you will find that they all have distinct designs.

AIRINC’s Research Approach

Rather than speculating, AIRINC decided to interview several companies of all sizes, seeking to learn about their mobility missions and function formations. We asked open-ended questions and probed into rationale. The resulting paper shares our findings and aims to help others learn from the case studies.

Key Aspects of Global Mobility Function Design

By diving into the key aspects of function design—reporting, organization, outsourcing, responsibilities, and technology—it becomes evident that how any company chooses to organize its function depends greatly on the focus and mission for Global Mobility.

Reflecting on Your Own Mobility Strategy

We invite you to read the paper and reflect on your own Global Mobility experiences. Does your current program operate with a strategically aligned focus, or are you more administratively focused? Where does your function report into? Is your function centralized or decentralized? Is your function due for a refreshed design? We hope that our findings help to inspire answers to these questions and more. 

As today’s workforce becomes increasingly global, the role of HR professionals becomes increasingly complex. We created AIRShare, the AIRINC blog, to share informative, anecdotal, and advisory content intended to help you support a mobile workforce. Subscribe here here.