Repatriate Knowledge Transfer and Headquarter-Centered Capability Upgrading in Chinese Multinational Enterprises: The Case of Haier
Ms. Yixin (Neve) SUN
PhD Student in Management
Date: 25 May 2023 (Thursday)
Time: 12:30pm -2:00 pm
Venue: E22 FBA Lobby
Abstract
It’s essential for multinational enterprises (MNEs) to develop new applications and enhance their capabilities to gather and transfer globally dispersed knowledge (knowledge and expertise obtained by their expatriates while working internationally) to their headquarters (HQs). Reverse knowledge transfer, a process in which local HQ staff accumulate, assimilate, and are motivated by repatriates’ experience and knowledge, confers a competitive edge as repatriates’ foreign knowledge allows HQs to identify novel innovations and potential new market opportunities. Despite earlier theoretical advancements and preliminary empirical studies concerning the success of firms in acquiring repatriates’ knowledge, existing literature offers a rather incomplete perspective on repatriate knowledge transfer (RKT) processes. The process of knowledge translation—defined as “the disembedding and re-embedding of ideas, objects, and practices during their movement from one context to another”—upon repatriation, has gotten limited attention. To address this research gap, I combine the translation and capability upgrading literature to elucidate the RKT processes in Chinese MNEs. Consequently, I employ the knowledge translation perspective derived from Scandinavian Institutionalism to unveil the “black box” of the RKT process in a home-based context, with a particular focus on the inherent transfer practices and the roles performed by repatriates and HQ staff.
Short Bio
Neve is a third-year PhD student in Strategic Management, supervised by Professor Jacky Hong. She earned a Master’s degree in Commercial Project Management from the University of Manchester, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics. Grounding her research in the realm of corporate dynamics, Neve centers her inquiry around the repatriate knowledge transfer utilized by Chinese MNEs. More specifically, she aims to uncover how these organizations effectively manage and upgrade their central capabilities leveraging knowledge transfer methodologies. Infusing a qualitative lens into her research, she explores phenomenon-driven queries, shining a spotlight on underlying issues often sidelined in traditional investigation.
All are welcome!
