The MNC as a Knowledge Structure The Roles of Knowledge Sources and Organizational Instruments in MNC Knowledge Management

Recent research on the differentiated MNC has concerned knowledge flows between MNC units. While linking up with this literature, we extend in two directions. First, we argue that conceptualizing the MNC as a knowledge structure furthers the understanding of intra-MNC knowledge flows. Thus, we see MNC knowledge elements as being structured along such dimensions as their type and degree of complementarity to other knowledge elements, and their sources, for example, whether they are mainly developed from external or internal knowledge sources. These dimensions matter in terms of knowledge flows, because they influence the costs and benefits of knowledge transfer and, hence, the actual level of knowledge transferred. Second, based on this conceptualization, we argue that MNC management can influence the development, characteristics and transfer of knowledge through choices regarding organizational instruments (control, motivation and context). We test six hypotheses derived from these arguments against a unique dataset on subsidiary knowledge development. The dataset includes information on organizational instruments, sources of subsidiary knowledge, and the extent of knowledge transfer to other MNC units. It covers more than 2,000 subsidiaries located in seven different European countries.Knowledge structure, complementarity, knowledge transfer, the MNC

The systematic capacity for technological absorption (SCTA) and international technology transfer (ITT): how some Korean firms successfully exploit Russian technology

This thesis examines issues of international technology transfer (ITT), focusing on the exploitation of foreign technology between countries with contrasting strengths and capabilities. The tendency in ITT is that it has mostly been limited to the triad countries and to some latecomer economies in East Asia. An explanation for this tendency is that the extent of this shared common ground between countries directly affects a recipient country’s capability to exploit and absorb foreign knowledge. This thesis examines cases of ITT which successfully occurred without such common grounds and offers explanations for specific cases. The conceptual framework was developed to explain how such extraordinary capabilities are created in order to overcome barriers to technological transfer. In addition, several other mechanisms and special factors are hypothesised as candidates for explaining the technology transfer process as one involving bridging and overcoming the barriers. These hypotheses are examined in relation to the Korean-Russian technology transfer, the main target of the investigation. Korea and Russia are countries that had no interaction prior to or during the Cold War period and shared little or no common ground. Nonetheless, after 1990 Korean firms have actively attempted to exploit Russian technology and some of them, though not many, have succeeded in exploiting and commercialising Russian technology. Important contextual issues for this examination are the military and mission-focused body of Russia’s technological knowledge and the often cheaper importation of Western technology. Taking these contextual issues into account, this thesis identifies two principal issues that were overcome in the cases of successful technology transfer: a) the tacitness of Russian technological knowledge and b) the locality of the Russian “context of origin” in terms of the socio-cultural, economic, and political environment. The empirical content of the thesis involves a mixed approach with document analysis, interviews, a survey, and case studies. The research results show that the public agency programme’s facilitating role as an intermediary (developed by the Korean government) creates the extra capacity to bridge the gaps involved in adapting Russian technology

Knowledge spillovers and local innovation systems: a critical survey

The paper re-examines critically the growing literature on localised knowledge spillovers (LKSs), and finds the econometric evidence on the subject still lacking of a firm theoretical background, especially in respect of the more recent developments in the economics of knowledge. Therefore such evidence, and even more the concept itself of LKS, should not be read as supportive of new industrial geographers' work on industrial districts, hi-tech agglomerations and 'milieux innovateur'. On the contrary, it may represent a threat to the necessary efforts for gaining more theoretical rigour and getting more empirical fieldwork done. Key words: knowledge, innovation, spillovers, externalities, regional agglomeration. JEL classification: D62, O30, R12

Conceptualizing the Role of Geographical Proximity in Project Based R&D Networks: A Literature Survey

Empirical evidence shows that research is being carried out more in cooperation or in collaboration with others, and the networks described by these collaborative research activities are becoming more and more complex. This phenomenon brings about new strands of research questions and opens up a different research context in the area of geography of innovation. The recent set of literature addressing these new issues shows a high degree of variation in terms of focus, approaches and methodology. Hence to elucidate the relationship between networks and geography it is crucial to have a review them. In this regard, this study focuses on a particular type of networks, namely, project based R&D networks and aims at describing the state-of-the-art in explaining the specificity of geography in formation and evolution of such networks. Towards this aim, we framed the discussion along four lenses: the specificity of geography in partner choice, in successful execution of the collaboration, in the resulting innovation performance both at the organizational and regional level, and the spatio-temporal evolution of networks. The overview provided by the survey is suggestive regarding the theorization of geography and network relationship, and informative regarding the issues demanding further research effort, and promising extensions.

The R&D Boundaries of the Firm and the Governance of R&D Alliances: Essays on Institutions, Strategic Considerations and Contract Structure

The three essays in this dissertation examine questions related to the R&D boundaries of the firm and the governance of R&D alliances. The first essay draws on institutional theory to examine the history of corporate R&D in the U.S. since the mid-19th century. Formal and informal institutional rules and constraints are shown to play a role in the initial rise of markets for technology in the 19th century, their decline during the early-20th century, and their eventual return at the end of the 20th century. The influence of formal and informal institutions on the adoption of in-house R&D labs in the US during the mid-20th century is also examined. In the second essay, the focus shifts to an investigation of the discrete project-level R&D outsourcing decision. A framework for understanding the direct and indirect influence of strategic considerations and environmental factors is developed. The impact of project- and transaction-level characteristics on the R&D outsourcing decisions are also considered, highlighting the importance of integrating information possessed by managers from different levels of the firms. Finally, the second essay proposes that cross-level interactions may exist within the framework, which may help to explain why the decisions observed in some cases run counter to the predictions traditionally derived from theory. The third essay includes two empirical studies that examine different aspects of the contracts designed to govern R&D alliances. Using a unique set of contracts from the medical device industry, the studies in the final essay investigate the factors that influence the structure of R&D alliance contracts and the assignment of key decision and control rights in such contracts. In addition, the final essay investigates the impact of previous alliance experience on the relationship between the key factors identified and the structure of R&D alliance contracts

Knowledge transfer from european multinational corporations to their subsidiaries in China: contextual perspectives and expatriate's roles

JEL classification: F2, M1This study aims to explore the factors impeding the knowledge transfer from European multinational corporations’ (MNC) headquarters to their subsidiaries in China. And the roles that the expatriates play in the process of knowledge transfer are also examined. A quantitative research method is adopted in this study. We collected 67 questionnaires in total responded by the European expatriates in China. The results indicate that the expatriates actively participate in a wide range of knowledge transfer areas and that seven factors related to various contexts are identified by the expatriates as the primary causes of the difficulties in the process of knowledge transfer. The analysis of the results, which is related to the overall contexts in China, is also presented. We conclude the study with the limitations and suggestions for future research.Esta tese investiga os fatores que impedem a transferência de conhecimento das sedes das Empresas Multinacionais Europeias (EME) para as suas subsidiárias chinesas. Investiga também o papel que os expatriados desempenham no processo de transferência de conhecimento. Esta investigação utilizou um método de pesquisa quantitativo. Foram recolhidos 67 questionários preenchidos por expatriados europeus. Os resultados indicam que os expatriados participam ativamente em várias áreas de transferência do conhecimento. Os expatriados identificaram sete fatores relacionados com vários contextos como causas primárias das dificuldades do processo de transferência de conhecimento. A tese apresenta a análise de resultados relacionando com o contexto geral da China. Concluímos com as limitações e sugestões para investigação futura

Embracing stakeholder engagement in sustainability-oriented innovation: Internal capabilities and dynamics of open innovation in the Norwegian minerals industry

The transition towards a sustainable minerals industry will rely on pursuing sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI), requiring continuous innovations in extraction and production processes, product offerings and the way the industry deals with its social responsibilities. Considering the breadth of SOI, mineral firms have no choice but to engage with and seek knowledge from multiple key external stakeholders. However, this stakeholder multiplicity poses significant challenges to firms, bearing in mind the diverse knowledge backgrounds and interests of these stakeholders, as well as the internal capabilities required to integrate and apply the externally acquired knowledge. Despite the growing scholarly interest in studying stakeholder engagement in SOI processes, a considerable amount of knowledge in this research field is restricted to specific types of SOI that ignore the comprehensiveness of sustainability. Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis is to answer the following question: “Under which conditions and to what extent can engaging external stakeholders improve a firm’s SOI outputs and financial performance?”. This research question is explored through four sub-research questions in three empirical papers that draw on different theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. The first and second papers provide insights into the conditions in which stakeholder engagement can be beneficial for SOI, focusing on internal and inter-organizational factors respectively. The third paper then positions SOI itself as a mediating condition that can assist firms to reap the financial benefits from stakeholder engagement practices. As far as the extent of the effect of stakeholder engagement is concerned, the second and third papers establish an empirical link between stakeholder engagement and SOI outputs. Overall, the thesis contributes to the literature and practice by uncovering the “what”, “how”, “why” and “when” of the phenomenon of stakeholder engagement in SOI

Ethics and taxation : a cross-national comparison of UK and Turkish firms

This paper investigates responses to tax related ethical issues facing busines