Knowledge Transfer from Repatriated Employees: The Indian Experience

Mastering the art of knowledge management is the need of the hour and can help companies create a sustainable competitive advantage. Managing knowledge for competitive advantage requires dissemination of knowledge to other units and co-workers at the right time and in the right way. This paper deals with how the Indian MNCs manage to integrate repatriates’ knowledge and, more specifically, what mechanisms they use to integrate this knowledge. Though companies are reasonably good at acquiring knowledge, this resource is often wasted through ineffective dissemination and low levels of reuse. Knowledge-based theory of the firm emphasizes that the source of competitive advantage resides in the application of the knowledge rather than in the knowledge itself; however, the focus of past research has been skewed heavily towards the contribution aspect of knowledge sharing. Hence, this study develops a conceptual model to assess the knowledge-seeking aspect of knowledge-sharing environment and provides more analytical information needed for managers as to what actions are to be taken to garner more knowledge and develop a knowledge-seeking environment in the organization.