Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations
Managing multiple knowledge transfers between headquarters and subsidiaries, among subsidiaries, and also within each of these units is crucial for multinational corporations’ (MNCs) survival. Therefore, this article aims to uncover the main factors influencing internal knowledge transfers in MNCs—i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Administrative Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/1/16 |
| _version_ | 1797439152296296448 |
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| author | Rita Castro António Carrizo Moreira |
| author_facet | Rita Castro António Carrizo Moreira |
| author_sort | Rita Castro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Managing multiple knowledge transfers between headquarters and subsidiaries, among subsidiaries, and also within each of these units is crucial for multinational corporations’ (MNCs) survival. Therefore, this article aims to uncover the main factors influencing internal knowledge transfers in MNCs—including intra-unit knowledge transfers and transfers between units, namely, conventional, horizontal, and reverse knowledge transfers. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to synthesize the content of 85 articles. From a set of 1439 papers, only 85 related to knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing were considered. Based on an inductive thematic approach, eight different research categories and 97 topics were identified. Four different internal knowledge transfers (intra knowledge transfer (IKT), horizontal knowledge transfer (HKT), conventional knowledge transfer (CKT), and reverse knowledge transfer (RKT)) are compared across eight thematic categories and 97 topics. According to the results obtained, the depth of the topics analyzed varies, as does the variety of categories, with RKT being more deeply analyzed than IKT. There is a clear dominance of vertical knowledge transfer (CKT + RHT) over HKT. The exercise of power (e.g., size, knowledge base) still dominates CKT and RKT in most of the studies analyzed, which are traditionally affected by the characteristics of MNCs, HQs and subsidiaries. The debate on HKT is affected by the classical perspectives of power-based relations (e.g., expatriates, size, knowledge base) among subsidiaries. Although important, intra-unit knowledge transfer is greatly influenced by characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e1fd687d54744b28b9ab181f3fd33b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:48:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Administrative Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e1fd687d54744b28b9ab181f3fd33b82023-11-30T23:17:51ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872023-01-011311610.3390/admsci13010016Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational CorporationsRita Castro0António Carrizo Moreira1Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalManaging multiple knowledge transfers between headquarters and subsidiaries, among subsidiaries, and also within each of these units is crucial for multinational corporations’ (MNCs) survival. Therefore, this article aims to uncover the main factors influencing internal knowledge transfers in MNCs—including intra-unit knowledge transfers and transfers between units, namely, conventional, horizontal, and reverse knowledge transfers. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to synthesize the content of 85 articles. From a set of 1439 papers, only 85 related to knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing were considered. Based on an inductive thematic approach, eight different research categories and 97 topics were identified. Four different internal knowledge transfers (intra knowledge transfer (IKT), horizontal knowledge transfer (HKT), conventional knowledge transfer (CKT), and reverse knowledge transfer (RKT)) are compared across eight thematic categories and 97 topics. According to the results obtained, the depth of the topics analyzed varies, as does the variety of categories, with RKT being more deeply analyzed than IKT. There is a clear dominance of vertical knowledge transfer (CKT + RHT) over HKT. The exercise of power (e.g., size, knowledge base) still dominates CKT and RKT in most of the studies analyzed, which are traditionally affected by the characteristics of MNCs, HQs and subsidiaries. The debate on HKT is affected by the classical perspectives of power-based relations (e.g., expatriates, size, knowledge base) among subsidiaries. Although important, intra-unit knowledge transfer is greatly influenced by characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/1/16knowledge transferinternal knowledgemultinational corporationsknowledge managementintra-unit knowledge transferconventional knowledge transfer |
| spellingShingle | Rita Castro António Carrizo Moreira Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations Administrative Sciences knowledge transfer internal knowledge multinational corporations knowledge management intra-unit knowledge transfer conventional knowledge transfer |
| title | Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations |
| title_full | Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations |
| title_fullStr | Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations |
| title_short | Mapping Internal Knowledge Transfers in Multinational Corporations |
| title_sort | mapping internal knowledge transfers in multinational corporations |
| topic | knowledge transfer internal knowledge multinational corporations knowledge management intra-unit knowledge transfer conventional knowledge transfer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/1/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ritacastro mappinginternalknowledgetransfersinmultinationalcorporations AT antoniocarrizomoreira mappinginternalknowledgetransfersinmultinationalcorporations |