Lena M. Fischer

PhD Candidate & Research Assistant

Lena Maria Fischer

M.Sc.
Strategic and International Management
Lena M. Fischer
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Image: Lena M. Fischer

The reintegration of repatriates into the parent company is frequently delineated in academic literature and business practice as a particularly challenging phase in the context of international assignments. Despite its relevance, research has so far paid insufficient attention to this topic.

The aim of this research is to address this research gap by systematically identifying and analyzing the key factors influencing reintegration success. Possible key factors are organizational support, networking opportunities, promotion of professional development and career prospects, and establishment of expatriate/repatriate communities. Interviews are conducted to collect and analyze relevant information on the reintegration process of repatriates.

The findings of this study are expected to enhance our collective understanding of reintegration, thereby establishing a foundation for future scientific research. Moreover, the findings can offer practical implications for companies aiming to successfully reintegrate international employees.

  • Short bio

    Lena M. Fischer received her Master of Science in Business Administration at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. During her master‘s degree she spent a semester abroad as an exchange student at the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. After graduating, she worked for around three years as a research assistant at the Technical University of Chemnitz where she was involved in various third-party funded projects. Afterwards she did a journey around the world. In April 2024 Lena M. Fischer joined Mike Geppert‘s team at FSU as a PhD student. 
    In 2026, she spent three months as a visiting researcher at University of Fribourg (Switzerland).  

  • Research interests

    My research focuses on how power and micro-politics shape the behavior of actors within organizations. Furthermore, I am interested in how institutional frameworks are interpretedcontested, and enacted—both within organizations and on a broader level, such as the labor market.

    • Power Structures in MNC
    • Networks in MNC
    • Global Mobility, and International Career Paths
    • Cosmopolitan Capital
  • List of publications

    Articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals

    • Fischer, L. M., & Schwarzkopf, M. (2023). Reintegration of repatriates: a qualitative study of influencing factors in the context of communities. Journal of Global Mobility: The Home of Expatriate Management Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGM-06-2022-0030External link

    Book Chapter

    • Berkemeier, A., Fischer, L. M., Schwarzkopf, M., & Bullinger, A. C. (2025). HCI in Service Industries. In C. Stephanidis & G. Salvendy (Eds.), Human-Computer Interaction in Various Application Domains (1st ed., pp. 372–397). Taylor & Francis Group.


    Presentations and conference papers

    • 20th Organization Studies (OS) Summer Workshop „The Architecture of Hope in Distressing Times and Places: Construction, Action, and Possibilities“, Thessaloniki, Greece, May 27-30, 2026. Title of the paper: „Power, Hope and Habitus in Multinational Corporations“. Co-authors: Dr. Daniel Pastuh, Dr. Jan Goldenstein, Prof. Dr. Mike Geppert
    • 41st EGOS Colloquium „Creativity that Goes a Long Way“, July, 2025, Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece in Athens. Title of the paper: „Changing relationship networks of repatriates – Implications for power, micro-politics and influence tactics in MNCs“. Co-authors: Dr. Daniel Pastuh, Dr. Jan Goldenstein, Prof. Dr. Mike Geppert  

    • Fischer, L. M., Hochstein, S., Pinter, N., & Bullinger, A. C. (2022). Arbeitsgestaltung im Kontext des Transformationsprozesses vom Produkthersteller zum Smart Service-Anbieter. In GfA e.V. (Ed.), Technologie und Bildung in hybriden Arbeitswelten. 68. Frühjahrskongress der Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft e.V. (Article C.5.5). GfA-Press.
    • Fischer, L. M., Hochstein, S., Schwarzkopf, M., & Bullinger, A. C. (2021). Smart Salesperson and Smart Service-Owner – New role profiles due to changed competence requirements in the context of digital work. In B. Bienzeisler, K. Peters & A. Schletz (Eds.), The Disruptive Role of Data, AI and Ecosystems in Services: Proceedings of the 31st RESER Conference (pp. 269-281). Fraunhofer IAO.
    • Fischer, L. M. (2021). Von Kompetenzentwicklung zum Smart Service Anbieter – ein anpassungsfähiger Kompetenzentwicklungsprozess für KMU. In GfA e.V. (Ed.), Arbeit HUMAINE gestalten. 67. Frühjahrskongress der Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft e.V. (Article B.11.3). GfA Press.
  • Educational trainings

    Workshops

    • 21st SCANCOR PhD Course on Institutional Analysis, hosted by the Department of Government at the University of Bergen, Noray, August 25–29, 2025

    • „Epistemology, qualitative research, and quantitative research“, hosted by Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Lozano & Prof. Dr. Maria Barreiro-Gen (at Dresden University of Technology), 2025

    • „Publishing in Leading Journals“, hosted by Prof. Dr. Ajay Kohli (at University of Leipzig), 2024
  • Membership in academic and other scholarly bodies

    University Committee and Representative Roles

    • Since 10/2025
      Deputy Member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
      Elected deputy member of the Faculty Council, representing the interests of the mid-level faculty
    • Since 10/2024
      DR.FSU, Council of Doctoral Students at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
      Elected member of the DR.FSU, representing the interests of doctoral students, providing advice and support, training sessions


    Membership & Reviewer Activity

    • Schumpeter Center for Research on Socio-Economic Change (JSEC), University of Jena
    • European Group for Organization Studies (EGOS)
    • Reviewer for Journal of Global Mobility (2024-2025)
  • Teaching

    Certificates

    • Principles of university didactics: Certificate program "Advanced" 
    • Principles of university didactics: Certificate program "Basic"

    Teaching

    • Supervision of bachelor's and master's theses (since 2024)
    • Master’s Seminar: Office Politics and Leadership (Summer 2026)
    • Bachelor’s Seminar: Hope, Leadership and Cosmopolitan Capital (Summer 2026)
    • Master’s Seminar: Research on Multinational Corporations (Winter 2025/26)
    • Bachelor Modul: Advanced Module in International Management (Winter 2025/26, Winter 2024/25)
    • Bachelor Modul: Management (Summer 2025)
    • Bachelor’s Seminar: Fundamentals and Prospects of Studying Economics (Winter 2024/25)
    • Master Modul: Comparative International Management (Summer 2024)
  • Former research projects
    • IMPRESS – “Development of a toolbox for pattern-based planning of hybrid value creation systems for the provision of smart services”; Project funded by BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
    • MOONRISE – “Mass customization for the implementation of production-related IT systems in corporate networks”; Project funded by BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)