The Best of Both Worlds: The Benefits of Dual Embeddedness for Repatriate Knowledge Transfer

Abstract

Drawing on job embeddedness theory, this study adopts a novel approach by integrating the role of dual job embeddedness during the expatriation cycle as a critical antecedent of repatriate knowledge transfer. Accordingly, this study explores the influence of 1) expatriates’ job embeddedness in the host unit during their international assignment and 2) their job embeddedness in the headquarters upon return, on repatriate knowledge transfer. Moreover, the study investigates the levers organizations can pull to facilitate job embeddedness in the host unit and the headquarters upon expatriates’ return. To test our hypotheses, we collected multi-wave survey data from 129 expatriates during and after their international assignment and further obtained supervisor-ratings six months after repatriation. In addition, we developed and validated a scale capturing repatriate knowledge transfer. Results show that perceived organizational support has a positive influence on job embeddedness, both in the host unit and the headquarters. Further, we found that job embeddedness in the headquarters exerts a direct effect on repatriate knowledge transfer, while job embeddedness in the host unit increases communication with the former host unit upon repatriation, which in turn led to enhanced knowledge transfer. The implications of this study for theory and practice are discussed.