The Value of international assignees’ knowledge of interpersonal networks: knowledge of people, networks and politics and knowledge flows in multinational enterprises

This paper explores the role of international assignments in sharing knowledge across multinational enterprises (MNEs) by examining how international assignees share knowledge of interpersonal networks and, in turn, the impact on knowledge flow in MNEs. We go beyond the extant membership of interpersonal networks metaphor by studying a category of intra-organisational knowledge that facilitates knowledge flows. In doing so, this paper contributes not only to our understanding of the significance of specific kinds of relationships in MNEs but, uniquely, to our understanding of the utility of knowledge of interpersonal networks as a category of intra-organisational knowledge; knowledge of people, networks and politics as well as respective idiosyncrasies and behaviours. The value of international assignees’ knowledge of interpersonal networks is demonstrated with an explanation of how advantages related to time and access to knowledge facilitates a more efficient and effective flow of knowledge across the MNE.