Final answer:
To handle the country's laws and culture while avoiding extra wages for a middle-level manager role in a foreign operation, a Host-Country National (HCN) should be hired because of their knowledge of local systems and cost-effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
When staffing a new foreign operation and looking to hire a middle-level manager who can navigate the country's laws and culture while avoiding supplementary wages, the best choice would be to hire a Host-Country National (HCN). HCNs are residents of the country where the operation is located and would thus have inherent knowledge of local laws, cultural norms, and business practices. This not only aids in ensuring legal compliance and cultural sensitivity but also removes the need for additional expenses like expatriate packages, which could include higher wages, relocation costs, and other benefits typically offered to workers from outside the host country. HCNs are likely to understand and integrate within the local context more effectively, facilitating smoother operations and potentially better relationships with local stakeholders. Additionally, employing HCNs can reflect a company's commitment to investing in the local economy and workforce, which can improve corporate image and support corporate social responsibility efforts.