Towards a model of effective knowledge transfer within transnationals: The case of Chinese foreign invested enterprises

• Published in: The Journal of technology transfer Vol. 32; no. 1-2; pp. 109 - 122
• Main Authors: Miesing, Paul, Kriger, Mark P, Slough, Neil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Indianapolis Springer Nature B.V 01-04-2007
• Subjects: Best practice; Corporate culture; Culture; Dispersion; Explicit knowledge; Foreign subsidiaries; Globalization; Homogenization; Innovations; Knowledge management; Learning; Multinational corporations; Organization theory; Organizational learning; Organizations; Parents; Prototypes; Quality circles; Studies; Technology transfer; Transnationalism; China
• ISSN: 0892-9912; 1573-7047
• DOI: 10.1007/s10961-006-9006-y

In this paper Chinese foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) are employed as prototypes to generate a model of how transnationals can transfer both tacit and explicit knowledge between their units as well as between FIEs and the parent organization. We propose that successful intra-organization knowledge transfer depends upon: (1) collective creation of knowledge as intellectual and social capital available throughout the organization; (2) trust-based collaboration among geographically dispersed entities that form the transnational organization; and(3) the willingness and ability of organizational units to use that knowledge. The paper further proposes that organizational knowledge should ideally ow in multiple directions, providing learning opportunities for both investing and host organizations. Implications for transfer of best practices, a specic form of tacit knowledge, are also offered. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]