Repatriate knowledge transfer: A systematic review of the literature

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Expatriates acquire highly valuable knowledge during their international assignments, but knowledge transfer upon their return to the domestic organization often fails. Since the first empirical study in 2000, scholars have advanced the competency-based view of repatriation by developing conceptual models of repatriate knowledge transfer and examining the antecedents of successful transfer attempts. However, much empirical research still remains to be done. In order to guide future empirical research, I present the results of a systematic review of the literature on repatriate knowledge transfer between 2000 and 2015. The extant research results are synthesized into a multilevel framework that consists of factors on the individual, dyadic, and organizational level that influence repatriate knowledge transfer success. In addition, I identify theoretical and methodological shortcomings of the literature, and discuss avenues for future research as well as implications for practitioners.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationExpatriate Management : Transatlantic Dialogues
EditorsBenjamin Bader, Tassilo Schuster, Anna Katharina Bader
Number of pages40
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Publication date2017
Pages225-264
ISBN (Print)9781137574053
ISBN (Electronic)9781137574060
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • Management studies - Social Capital, Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Sharing, Organizational Learning, Social Exchange Theory