Knowledge transfer of Chinese self-initiated repatriates: Exploring the returnee and company perspectives

Abstract

Repatriates’ knowledge is mostly under-used in companies, necessitating systematic research to identify factors that facilitate successful knowledge transfer (KT). However, despite significant differences between two groups of repatriates (company-assigned and self-initiated), research on KT has focused only on the former. Drawing on the organizational embeddedness perspective and the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) framework, we take a multi-angled view to explore the KT of self-initiated repatriates (SIRs). We conduct two qualitative studies in China to investigate the perspectives of both SIRs and HR professionals. The results suggest that organizational embeddedness influences the ability, motivation, and opportunity of SIRs to apply and share knowledge. We also find that companies do not implement SIR-targeted HR practices to manage their KT due to the low perceived value of SIRs’ knowledge. Our findings highlight the importance of mutual effort from both sides to enhance the embeddedness of SIRs and their KT.