The bridging role of expatriates and inpatriates in knowledge transfer in multinational corporations

Article

Harzing, A., Pudelko, M. and Reiche, B. 2016. The bridging role of expatriates and inpatriates in knowledge transfer in multinational corporations. Human Resource Management. 55 (4), pp. 679-695. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21681
TypeArticle
TitleThe bridging role of expatriates and inpatriates in knowledge transfer in multinational corporations
AuthorsHarzing, A., Pudelko, M. and Reiche, B.
Abstract

Drawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm, this paper provides the first empirical study that explicitly investigates the relationship between different categories of international assignees and knowledge transfer in multinational corporations (MNCs). Specifically, we examine (1) the extent to which expatriate presence in different functional areas is related to knowledge transfer from and to headquarters in these functions; and (2) the extent to which different categories of international assignees (expatriates vs. inpatriates) contribute to knowledge transfer from and to headquarters.
We base our investigation on a large scale survey, encompassing data from more than 800 subsidiaries of MNCs in thirteen countries. By disaggregating the role of knowledge transfer across management functions, directions of knowledge transfer, and type of international assignees, we find that (1) expatriate presence generally increases function-specific knowledge transfer from and, to a lesser extent, to headquarters; and that (2) the relevance of expatriates and former inpatriates varies for knowledge flows between headquarters and subsidiaries. Additionally, we discuss implications for research and practice, in particular regarding different management functions and different forms of international assignments, and provide suggestions for future research.

Keywordsinternational HRM; international management
Research GroupInternational and Cross-cultural Management group
LanguageEnglish
PublisherWiley
JournalHuman Resource Management
ISSN0090-4848
Electronic1099-050X
Publication dates
Online12 Jan 2015
Print07 Jul 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited27 Mar 2015
Accepted01 Feb 2014
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Harzing, A.-W., Pudelko, M. and B. Sebastian Reiche, B. (2016), The Bridging Role of Expatriates and Inpatriates in Knowledge Transfer in Multinational Corporations. Hum Resour Manage, 55: 679–695. doi:10.1002/hrm.21681, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21681. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21681
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84921476962
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