The willingness of South African emigrants to transfer knowledge to other South Africans

Abstract

This study examines the effect of migration and emotions on knowledge transfer with the intention of identifying the emotions influencing the willingness of South African emigrants to transfer knowledge to South Africans living in South Africa. The increasing number of South Africans emigrating is exacerbating the skills shortage in the country and therefore it is of importance to understand the profile of a South African emigrant who is willing to transfer knowledge to South Africans living in South Africa. Through understanding who to target for assistance South Africa will be able to better utilise those emigrants who are willing to assist. The primary data was collected through an online survey. Of the 311 responses 210 were usable in the regression models run. The outcome of this research supports previous literature that positive knowledge sharing emotions play a major role in influencing the willingness to transfer knowledge. Because this is voluntary knowledge sharing emigrants tend to share knowledge when they are happy and when they feel positive towards knowledge sharing. This is influenced by positive feelings about their own knowledge and about their decision to emigrate. The results also suggest that emigrant‟s emotions towards knowledge sharing were not dominated by their feelings about South Africa, but rather by their emotions towards their host country. Copyright