Repatriate Knowledge Sharing Environment: Scale Development and Validation

Abstract

The transfer of repatriate international knowledge to their colleagues is essential for organisations to capitalise on the benefits international assignments can offer and to gain a competitive edge. Literature on knowledge sharing and repatriate effectiveness was reviewed for the development of the repatriate knowledge sharing environment (RKSE) measure. The first phase of the study created and pilot tested a proposed seven-dimension measure of the RKSE. Phase two confirmed the dimensions of the measure and examined the validity of the measure. The first phase alluded to an eight-dimension RKSE factor structure: source credibility, knowledge quality, source awareness, employee interaction, source recognition, workplace professionalism, supervisor support and promotion of knowledge exchange. Phase two exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the eight-dimension RKSE scale. Furthermore, construct validity was found for the eight dimensions of RKSE scale and criterion-related validity was established. Through the use of this new instrument, organisations can improve their understanding of the organisations support towards repatriate knowledge management.