Reverse Knowledge Transfer: From Emerging Markets to Developed Markets
2021 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the process of RKT from EM subsidiaries to DM MNCs along with the factors that influence this process.
Method: Following qualitative research with inductive approach, the data was collected through semi-structured interviews from 10 senior managers of MNCs in various fields, including Information Technology, Project Management, Engineering, Logistics and Telecommunication. Grounded theory was used to analyze the empirical findings.
Findings: The results show that EM subsidiaries’ knowledge skills, disseminative capacity, autonomy, and external embeddedness have significant influence on RKT. On the other hand, parent companies, as receiving units, play important role with its absorptive capacity and perception toward the subsidiaries. Moreover, mediating factors such as internal embeddedness, cultural awareness, knowledge relevance and communication context affect the process of RKT between EM subsidiaries and parent companies in developed markets. Finally, RKT from EM subsidiaries can contribute to MNCs innovation, subsidiaries productivity, and can further lead to intra organizational knowledge transfer through internal networks.
Implications: Theoretically, the research proposes a holistic model of RKT process along with the factors that influence the course of knowledge sharing from EM subsidiaries to DM parent companies. This model offers practical guidelines for international managers both at parent companies and subsidiaries level to promote RKT process to achieve and sustain MNCs’ competitive advantage through innovation.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021. , p. 100
Keywords [en]
Reverse Knowledge Transfer, Emerging Market, Autonomy, Internal Embeddedness, External Embeddedness, Absorptive Capacity, Reverse Innovation, Intra-organizational Knowledge Transfer
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-35133OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-35133DiVA, id: diva2:1523691
Subject / course
Business administration
Educational program
Business administration – master’s programme (one year)
Supervisors
Examiners
2021-01-292021-01-292022-01-03Bibliographically approved