International Transfer Of Knowledge In Multinational Enterprises The Role Of International Human Resource Management In Transferring Tacit Knowledge Across Borders

Diploma Thesis from the year 2001 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1.0 (A), European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) (FB BWL), language: English, abstract: In the world of today, business is no longer limited by national boundaries. The majority of the world’s large corporations perform a significant portion of their activities outside their home countries. The rapidly emerging global economy creates numerous opportunities for businesses to expand their revenues, drive down their costs and boost their profits. At the same time, markets have become fierce battlegrounds where firms have to fight aggressively for market share with domestic and foreign competitors. It is commonly accepted that one of the primary sources for competitive advantage of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in this globalized business environment is their ability to transfer superior knowledge at the international level1 and to create a “learning organization”2. To succeed, or at least survive, in the global market-place, organizations need to adapt quickly to the changing environment and must commit themselves to permanent learning. This paper presents a general overview of the process of international knowledge transfer within multinational enterprises. It deals with the problems of organizational knowledge creation and sharing. A particular emphasis is placed on the implications for international human resource management practices in managing the international transfer of employees, since global assignments are recognized hierin as the most important mechanism of transferring tacit knowledge3 across borders. As the sharing of easily codifiable knowledge is relatively easy to manage, the means of transferring it are not focused on in this study. [...] 1 See, for instance, Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1992): „Knowledge of the Firm, Combinative Capabilities, and the Replication of Technology“, Organizational Science, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 383-397; Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1993): „Knowledge of the Firm and the Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation“, Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 24, pp. 625-645; Björkman, I. and Forsgren, M. (1997): „The Nature of the International Firm. Nordic Contributions to International Business Research“, Handelshojskolens Forlag, p. 71. 2 See, for instance, Garvin, D.A. (1993): „Building a Learning Organization“, Harvard Business Review, July/August, pp. 78-91. For definition of the learning organization see p. 23. 3 For definition of the tacit knowledge see p. 22.

International Human Resource Management offers a contemporary and multilayered introduction to international and comparative human resource management for university study. It critically analyses the core issues and emerging trends in the field, with a consistent emphasis on real-world scenarios and concerns. At the macro level, the book examines how IHRM fits within and adapts to the ever-changing environment of international relations and global development. At the firm level, it elucidates the strategic goals served by IHRM, and the processes used to achieve them. At the individual level, the analysis extends beyond the traditional focus on expatriates to encompass the various IHRM actors and their motivations. Each chapter features a case study, a media article, tutorial activities, discussion questions and links to further reading. The book concludes with three extended case studies, each based on a specific region, to help students consolidate their understanding.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Leadership and Human Resources - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,7, University of Tubingen, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze different theoretical approaches of research about knowledge and multinational teams to determine, whether multinational teams can be a way of transferring knowledge in a multinational corporation. According to the research that has already been conducted in this field, multinational teams can indeed be one way of transferring knowledge between dispersed multinational units in order to leverage its competitive advantage of sharing knowledge. This is mostly done by means of interaction between different team members who share knowledge in continuously communicating and working together, therefore benefiting from explicit and tacit knowledge of team members. Teams can create synergetic effects and not only share knowledge within a team, but also create new knowledge. This dissertation recognizes multinational teams as a suitable way of transferring knowledge. However, due to reasons of language barriers, lack of motivation and costs, a multinational team should not be used as the only means of transferring knowledge through multinational organizations.

Revised and updated to incorporate new research insights and findings, Managing a Global Workforce provides balanced and contemporary coverage of human resource management in the international marketplace. Directed at future general managers and international executives rather than HR specialists, it is designed to help readers recognize the critical human resource issues underlying the cultural and economic challenges they face. The book's approach is truly global in nature, not just focused on expatriates from the home office. The authors also recognize contemporary trends in the global business arena, including the growing use of contingent workers, strategic alliances, and the need to have an active influence on the workers in these new organizational relationships. Reader-friendly tools, including an opening case scenario in each chapter to attract interest and emphasize topic importance, enhance the book's practical, real-world emphasis. For this edition new end-of-chapter short cases as well as new topics, ideas, and illustrations featuring current issues and challenges such as the global economic challenge have been added; and updated Internet resource references are provided for each chapter.

Current corporate structures based on internationalisation and decentralisation are opposed to the nature of the most important resource: knowledge. The acquisition and exchange of (tacit) knowledge relies on interpersonal interactions and is thus time- and place-dependent. Given that the combination of heterogeneous knowledge stocks furthers innovation, organisations develop strategies to ensure the transfer of knowledge. To enable intra-organisational knowledge flows spatial mobility at the workplace affects a wide range of employees. The study examines in which ways spatially mobile employees, i.e. expatriates, contribute to those knowledge flows. The study of ego networks reveals not only social dynamics of knowledge transfer, but the geographical framework allows to discuss knowledge flows from a spatial perspective. On the one hand, the empirical results confirm their knowledge transfer function. On the other hand, the relational geographical perspective reveals that expatriates do not represent a homogeneous group, but their roles in the knowledge transfer process, the geographical reach of their networks and their knowledge resources depend on job-, knowledge-, individual- and space-related factors.

Tayeb (management and languages, Heriot-Watt U.) enters the debate about internationalization and globalization by proposing two dynamic models of human resource management (HRM) internationalization and international HRM in multinational corporations. She summarizes key debates in HRM and discusses the applicability of various HRM models in differ

In today’s global knowledge economy, competition for the best and brightest workers has intensified. Highly skilled workers are an asset to companies, knowledge institutions, cities, and regions as they contribute to knowledge creation, innovation, and economic growth and development. Skilled migrants cross, and many times straddle, international borders to pursue professional opportunities. These spatial relocations provide opportunities and challenges for migrants and the cities and regions they inhabit. How have international skilled migratory flows been formed, sustained, and transformed over multiple spaces and scales? How have these processes affected cities and regions? And how have multiple stakeholders responded to these processes? The contributors to this book bring together perspectives from economic, social, urban, and population geography in order to address these questions from a myriad of angles. Empirical case studies from different regions illuminate the multiscaled processes of international skilled migration. In particular, the contributions rethink skilled migration theories and provide insights into: the experiences of highly skilled labor migrants and international students; issues related to transnational activities and return migration; and policy implications for both immigrant source and destination countries. It also charts a future research agenda for international skilled migration research. Rethinking International Skilled Migration provides a comparative perspective on the experiences of skilled migrants across the local, regional, national, and/or global scale, paying particular attention to spatial and place-based dimensions of international skilled migration. It will be of interest to scholars and professionals in international migration, regional and national development policymakers, international businesses, and NGOs.

This comprehensive and engaging Research Handbook provides a full examination of the modes and mechanisms of international knowledge transfer. Furthermore, it also provides in-depth insights into international knowledge transfer related challenges faced by multinational enterprises (MNEs).