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Learning how to learn: Reverse knowledge transfer mechanism in Chinese manufacturing MNEs – in the context of outbound direct investment with aim at knowledge acquisition

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:Knowledge transfer, specifically reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) from invested European company to company from emerging markets, has become well-taken strategy for enhancing company’s competitive advantage and become an important topic for academic research. Since 2010, a trend is confirmed that Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs) employ outbound direct investment (ODI) as a strategy to acquire knowledge and realize industrial upgrading. Tacit knowledge is found out as most valuable asset to company, thus it is also the most difficult in transferring. This research is carried out with specific focus on tacit knowledge transfer to Chinese investor companies. The result of RKT does not always meet investor-company’s expectation. Built on “knowledge sender-receiver” model and the theory of ba, I try to explore a mechanism for better RKT performance after Chinese MNEs invested in Europe. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology is applied in this research. In the end, 10 interviews and 101 questionnaires are collected among employees who work at Chinese MNEs or invested European companies that have actively involved in ODI for knowledge transfer. RKT performance is impacted by complex factors. As an explorative research, we have found that firms’ absorptive capacity, under the environment of high-employeecommitted organizational climate, trust in leadership and other RKT participants, wellestablished formal knowledge transmission channel and similar organizational structure in both Chinese MNEs and invested European companies have major impact on reverse knowledge transfer performance.
Autores principais:Lan Li
Assunto:Reverse knowledge transfer Chinese MNEs Outbound direct investment Transferência de conhecimentos -- Knowledge transfer Investimento direto estrangeiro Vantagem competitiva -- Competitive advantage
Ano:2017
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:tese de doutoramento
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:ISCTE
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório ISCTE
Descrição
Resumo:Knowledge transfer, specifically reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) from invested European company to company from emerging markets, has become well-taken strategy for enhancing company’s competitive advantage and become an important topic for academic research. Since 2010, a trend is confirmed that Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs) employ outbound direct investment (ODI) as a strategy to acquire knowledge and realize industrial upgrading. Tacit knowledge is found out as most valuable asset to company, thus it is also the most difficult in transferring. This research is carried out with specific focus on tacit knowledge transfer to Chinese investor companies. The result of RKT does not always meet investor-company’s expectation. Built on “knowledge sender-receiver” model and the theory of ba, I try to explore a mechanism for better RKT performance after Chinese MNEs invested in Europe. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology is applied in this research. In the end, 10 interviews and 101 questionnaires are collected among employees who work at Chinese MNEs or invested European companies that have actively involved in ODI for knowledge transfer. RKT performance is impacted by complex factors. As an explorative research, we have found that firms’ absorptive capacity, under the environment of high-employeecommitted organizational climate, trust in leadership and other RKT participants, wellestablished formal knowledge transmission channel and similar organizational structure in both Chinese MNEs and invested European companies have major impact on reverse knowledge transfer performance.