Knowledge transfer in multinational enterprises: intra-firm and inter-firm perspectives

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorSamii, Massood
dc.contributor.authorWang, Lingling
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFicici, Aysun
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAybar, Bulent
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCollins, J. Stephanie
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-13T13:39:10Z
dc.date.available2017-06-13T13:39:10Z
dc.date.issued2016-05-17
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation aims to explore one of the most important aspects of knowledge management, knowledge transfer in multinational enterprises (MNEs). It examines this knowledge transfer process from two distinct perspectives: intra-firm and inter-firm. Intra-firm transfer of knowledge refers to the knowledge flow between headquarters and subsidiaries and inter-firm transfer is defined as the knowledge transfer between partners in international joint-ventures (IJV). Specifically, it attempts to investigate the factors that influence the intra-firm knowledge transfer process and the willingness to share knowledge between partners in IJVs, in order to improve the performance of MNEs. Since willingness to share knowledge between partners is more complex than that between parent and subsidiary due to the difference in ownership structure, if MNEs are able to manage the willingness to share knowledge in IJVs, then dealing with it between parent and a subsidiary should be much easier. To examine intra-firm knowledge transfer, system dynamics (SD) modelling is adopted and simulations demonstrate that both the transmission willingness and capacity, and absorptive willingness and capacity are important for MNEs to enhance its performance, since knowledge transfer is a two-way communication process. In order to reach a win-win situation, both headquarters and subsidiaries should be willing to share knowledge and learn from each other. To improve the effectiveness of knowledge transfer, ways to enhance transmission willingness and absorptive capacity, and cultural factors that influence cross-border communication are explored and discussed. In inter-firm knowledge transfer, most of the research literature examines at the absorptive capacity of recipients of knowledge, but does not examine the willingness to share knowledge. In fact, knowledge will not be effectively and efficiently transferred between partners if only capacity is involved. Therefore, the willingness to share knowledge is equally important in the knowledge transfer process. After a survey of literature, several factors that may influence willingness to share knowledge between partners in IJVs are identified. Then questionnaire was sent out and based on the responses of the survey, three case studies are employed to verify those factors that determine the willingness to share knowledge in IJVs in China. This dissertation attempts to get a better understanding of the intra-firm and inter-firm knowledge transfer in academia and provide some useful insights to practitioners in order to effectively and efficiently manage knowledge in MNEs and enhance firms’ performance, since knowledge is the most important strategic asset that firms possess and is closely related to their sustainable competitive advantage. (Author abstract)en_US
dc.description.bibliographicCitationWang, L. (2016). Knowledge transfer in multinational enterprises: intra-firm and inter-firm perspectives. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduen_US
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)en_US
dc.description.programInternational Businessen_US
dc.description.schoolSchool of Businessen_US
dc.digSpecsPDF/A-1ben_US
dc.format.extent2149715 bytesen_US
dc.format.mediaTypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10474/3178
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherSouthern New Hampshire Universityen_US
dc.relation.requiresAdobe Acrobat Readeren_US
dc.rightsAuthor retains all ownership rights. Further reproduction in violation of copyright is prohibiteden_US
dc.rightsHolderWang, Lingling
dc.subject.lcshSouthern New Hampshire University -- Theses (International Business)en_US
dc.subject.otherbusiness administrationen_US
dc.subject.othermanagementen_US
dc.subject.otherknowledge managementen_US
dc.subject.othermultinational enterprisesen_US
dc.subject.otherstrategyen_US
dc.titleKnowledge transfer in multinational enterprises: intra-firm and inter-firm perspectivesen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
int2016wang.pdf
Size:
2.05 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

International Business Dissertations