Knowledge beyond borders: A qualitative study of migrant workers' knowledge creation and transfer experience in MNCs.

Abstract

The study seeks to explore the role of migrant workers in creating and transferring knowledge in multinational corporations. The choice of Sweden is motivated by the country's position as a migrant-friendly nation, its innovation-based development, and the recent evolution of its migration policies. The study is primarily based on the literature on the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) of the firm, examining how it reveals the underlying factors that contribute to the processes of knowledge creation and sharing within the firm. The research employed a qualitative research method, involving semi-structured interviews with five skilled migrant employees and four managers across four multinational corporations (MNCs): Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Power Factors, and Northvolt. A thematic analysis approach was adopted to identify key factors that shape knowledge creation and transfer, including organisational integration processes, social inclusion, managerial support, and the extent to which migration policies influence the perception of job security. The findings reveal that knowledge resources brought to work by skilled migrants are hindered by ineffective integration, the absence of migrant-specific onboarding programs, stringent migration policies, and a lack of proper leadership representation further impedes their impact. Additionally, informal social factors, such as language barriers, also hinder migrant workers' full participation in organisational learning processes. This study contributes to the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) by expanding the framework of the theory to include policy-level and social dimensions of the knowledge view. The main takeaways from the research are a number of recommendations for managers in harnessing the skills, experiences and knowledge of skilled migrant workers for the benefit of the firm. Moreover, the study emphasises the importance of diversity but stresses that knowledge creation and transfer require more than diversity. It thrives on the wings of intentional organisational practices, inclusive leadership and fair policies.