Mr. Expat, you are fired! Employees' replacement case study from the Middle East

This paper aims to explore the relationship and the links between knowledge management (KM) and human resources management (HRM) and their role in assisting employees' replacement process as part of localisation program, called Nitaqat in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative research approach was employed using review of literature, semi-structured interviews and direct observation as data collection tools. Thirty nine interviews were conducted with employees in the Saudi Arabia's private sector organisations including human recourses managers, Saudi national employees and non-Saudis employees. The four main activities of human resources management department were identified including selection of new employees, periodic performance appraisal, identifying training requirements and recognition of efforts in the form of rewards. Furthermore, these four activities were linked with KM and the analysis of interviews resulted into 15 strategies that would assist in facilitating knowledge transfer between the leaving employee and the new joiner.