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Not all international assignments are created equal: HQ-subsidiary knowledge transfer patterns across types of assignments and types of knowledge

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  • Duvivier, Florence
  • Peeters, Carine
  • Harzing, Anne-Wil

Abstract

Drawing on 50 semi-structured interviews in a case study of a Belgian multinational and its foreign subsidiary in Poland, we develop new insights into how using different types of international assignments (long-term expatriation, short-term expatriation, short-term inpatriation) allows a HQ-subsidiary dyad to transfer different types of knowledge (declarative, procedural, axiomatic, relational), both from and to HQ, during and after the assignment. We show how each type of assignment acts as a unique knowledge transfer channel, and why it is critical that HQ-subsidiary dyads use an appropriate combination and sequence of international assignments reflecting their specific knowledge transfer needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Duvivier, Florence & Peeters, Carine & Harzing, Anne-Wil, 2019. "Not all international assignments are created equal: HQ-subsidiary knowledge transfer patterns across types of assignments and types of knowledge," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 181-190.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:54:y:2019:i:3:p:181-190
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2019.02.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Kiessling, Timothy & Maley, Jane Frances & Moeller, Miriam & Dabić, Marina, 2023. "Managing global knowledge transfer: Inpatriate manager embeddedness and firm innovation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    4. Fortwengel, Johann & Gutierrez Huerter O, Gabriela & Kostova, Tatiana, 2023. "Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    5. Sana Mumtaz & Sadia Nadeem, 2024. "Examining the distinct role of expatriates in top management teams during international assignments: a systematic review and a way forward," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 1669-1693, September.
    6. Patel, Parth & Varma, Arup & Sengupta, Santoshi & Prikshat, Verma & Park, HyunMi, 2022. "The international training of expatriates in Western subsidiaries of emerging multinational enterprises: A knowledge-based perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    7. Cerar, Jelena & Dimitrova, Mihaela & Nell, Phillip C., 2022. "Fostering operational management “Best Practices” in subsidiary plants in the Western Balkans: The role of MNC home-country environment and resource allocation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2).
    8. Heejin Kim & B. Sebastian Reiche & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2022. "How does successive inpatriation contribute to subsidiary capability building and subsidiary evolution? An organizational knowledge creation perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1394-1419, September.
    9. Tomoki Sekiguchi & Norihiko Takeuchi & Tomokazu Takeuchi & Shiho Nakamura & Azusa Ebisuya, 2019. "How Inpatriates Internalize Corporate Values at Headquarters: The Role of Developmental Job Assignments and Psychosocial Mentoring," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 825-853, October.
    10. Saeed, Abubakr & Ali, Ashiq & Azaaviele Liedong, Tahiru, 2024. "Parent firm reputational risk and TMT gender diversity of foreign subsidiaries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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