The Knowledge Transfer From Headquarter to Local Subsidiaries Through Expatriates - Local Employees’ Perspective

Sylwia Przytuła; Małgorzata Rozkwitalska; Michal Chmielecki; Łukasz Sułkowski; Beata Basińska

doi:10.4467/24498939ijcm.18.032.9628

The Knowledge Transfer From Headquarter to Local Subsidiaries Through Expatriates - Local Employees’ Perspective

Abstract

Background. Knowledge transfer between the HQ and subsidiary has recently been targets of increasing research interest. However, the role of expatriate managers and local staff perspective on this process has not been examined enough. Research aims. This paper has two main objectives: first to develop a conceptual framework (model) of knowledge transfer between the headquarters and local subsidiary, and second to empirically evaluate this process in five foreign subsidiaries based in Poland from a knowledge-based perspective. Methodology. Our study relied on qualitative case study methods. The authors report the empirical findings from five multinational subsidiaries (two German, two American and one Indian) located in Poland. 68 semi-structured interviews were conducted among HR specialists and managers. Key findings. The transfer of knowledge has always been in one direction, that is from the headquarters to its foreign subsidiary in Poland. Both the headquarters (as a sender) and the subsidiary (as a receiver) have been prepared in terms of tools and institutions to accumulate the knowledge. A key link in the knowledge transfer has included expatriates – their skills and abilities such as openness, willingness to learn and motivation for learning, ability to transfer their knowledge and experience to others, and ability to build positive interpersonal relations.

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Authors (5)

Sylwia Przytuła
Małgorzata Rozkwitalska prof.
Michal Chmielecki
Łukasz Sułkowski prof.
Beata Basińska dr hab.

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Category:

Articles

Type:

artykuły w czasopismach

Published in:

International Journal of Contemporary Management no. 17, pages 207 - 239,
ISSN: 2449-8920

Language:

English

Publication year:

2018

Bibliographic description:

Przytuła S., Rozkwitalska M., Chmielecki M., Sułkowski Ł., Basińska B.: The Knowledge Transfer From Headquarter to Local Subsidiaries Through Expatriates - Local Employees’ Perspective// International Journal of Contemporary Management/Współczesne Zarządzanie -Vol. 17,iss. 3 (2018), s.207-239

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