IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i21p14074-d956512.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Sustainable and Comprehensive Framework for Knowledge Transfer in MNCs: An Empirical Examination Based on Country, Company and Individual Levels of Chinese MNCs

Author

Listed:
  • Junshuai Cheng

    (School of Management, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, China)

  • Qaisar Iqbal

    (IRC for Finance and Digital Economy, KFUPM Business School, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Guangmeng Ji

    (School of International Business, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Jinhua 322100, China)

  • Weichun Li

    (CAAC Academy, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan 618307, China)

Abstract

The shift in business perspective helps test, extend, and build innovative management theory, then sustainably expand and enhance the understanding of business and management. The development of the global business model makes knowledge transfer not only focus on the process itself, but especially the knowledge transfer of multinational companies (MNCs). Thus, this study is based on the knowledge-based view (KBV) theory, using a sustainable perspective and establishing a spatial model, which includes three aspects: county, company, and employee. It has been mentioned many times in previous research that it is necessary to build such a comprehensive model and completely study the influence factors, while this study is the first to carry out an effective empirical way to test which levels have significant factors that impact the knowledge transfer of Chinese MNCs. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, such as video conference and remote online cooperation, whether human abilities and traits (cultural intelligence) still occupy a specific position, as the conclusions of previous studies have proved, is also a focus of this study. Therefore, this empirical study uses the partial least squares structural equation (PLS-SEM) to test the influence of different aspects on knowledge transfer in Chinese MNCs. Although this study just chose Chinese MNCs as the case, the comprehensive results make up and rediscover some tacit factors of the impact on knowledge transfer, and then support further sustainable research.

Suggested Citation

  • Junshuai Cheng & Qaisar Iqbal & Guangmeng Ji & Weichun Li, 2022. "A Sustainable and Comprehensive Framework for Knowledge Transfer in MNCs: An Empirical Examination Based on Country, Company and Individual Levels of Chinese MNCs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14074-:d:956512
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14074/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14074/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Heather Berry & Mauro F Guillén & Nan Zhou, 2010. "An institutional approach to cross-national distance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(9), pages 1460-1480, December.
    2. Santacreu-Vasut, Estefania & Teshima, Kensuke, 2016. "Foreign employees as channel for technology transfer: Evidence from MNC's subsidiaries in Mexico," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 92-112.
    3. Qaisar Iqbal & Noor Hazlina Ahmad & Zeyun Li & Yongmei Li, 2022. "To walk in beauty: Sustainable leadership, frugal innovation and environmental performance," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 738-750, April.
    4. Wei Xuecheng & Qaisar Iqbal, 2022. "Ethical Leadership, Bricolage, and Eco-Innovation in the Chinese Manufacturing Industry: A Multi-Theory Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Morgulis-Yakushev, Sergey & Yildiz, H. Emre & Fey, Carl. F., 2018. "When same is (not) the aim: A treatise on organizational cultural fit and knowledge transfer," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 151-163.
    6. Fang, Yulin & Wade, Michael & Delios, Andrew & Beamish, Paul W., 2013. "An exploration of multinational enterprise knowledge resources and foreign subsidiary performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 30-38.
    7. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Extending the Theory of the Multinational Enterprise: Internalization and Strategic Management Perspectives," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 7, pages 91-103, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Vittoria G. Scalera & Debmalya Mukherjee & Lucia Piscitello, 2020. "Ownership strategies in knowledge-intensive cross-border acquisitions: Comparing Chinese and Indian MNEs," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 155-185, March.
    9. Di Vaio, Assunta & Palladino, Rosa & Hassan, Rohail & Escobar, Octavio, 2020. "Artificial intelligence and business models in the sustainable development goals perspective: A systematic literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 283-314.
    10. Contractor, Farok & Yang, Yong & Gaur, Ajai S., 2016. "Firm-specific intangible assets and subsidiary profitability: The moderating role of distance, ownership strategy and subsidiary experience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(6), pages 950-964.
    11. Andersson, Ulf & Pahlberg, Cecilia, 1997. "Subsidiary influence on strategic behaviour in MNCs: an empirical study," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 319-334, June.
    12. Mudambi, Ram & Navarra, Pietro, 2002. "Institutions and internation business: a theoretical overview," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 635-646, December.
    13. Ambos, Tina C. & Ambos, Björn & Schlegelmilch, Bodo B., 2006. "Learning from foreign subsidiaries: An empirical investigation of headquarters' benefits from reverse knowledge transfers," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 294-312, June.
    14. Rabbiosi, Larissa & Santangelo, Grazia D., 2013. "Parent company benefits from reverse knowledge transfer: The role of the liability of newness in MNEs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 160-170.
    15. M. Millie Kwan & Pak-Keung Cheung, 2006. "The Knowledge Transfer Process: From Field Studies to Technology Development," Journal of Database Management (JDM), IGI Global, vol. 17(1), pages 16-32, January.
    16. Malik, Tariq H., 2013. "National institutional differences and cross-border university–industry knowledge transfer," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 776-787.
    17. Mia Hsiao-Wen Ho & Pervez N. Ghauri & Jorma A. Larimo, 2018. "Institutional distance and knowledge acquisition in international buyer-supplier relationships: The moderating role of trust," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 427-447, June.
    18. John H Dunning, 1998. "Location and the Multinational Enterprise: A Neglected Factor?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 29(1), pages 45-66, March.
    19. Srivastava, Saurabh & Singh, Shiwangi & Dhir, Sanjay, 2020. "Culture and International business research: A review and research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    20. Zaheer Khan & Oded Shenkar & Yong Kyu Lew, 2015. "Knowledge transfer from international joint ventures to local suppliers in a developing economy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(6), pages 656-675, August.
    21. Anika Breitenmoser & Benjamin Bader, 2016. "Repatriation outcomes affecting corporate ROI: a critical review and future agenda," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 66(3), pages 195-234, June.
    22. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Yamao, Sachiko, 2017. "Corporate language proficiency in reverse knowledge transfer: A moderated mediation model of shared vision and communication frequency," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 404-416.
    23. Gabriel R G Benito & Bent Petersen & Lawrence S Welch, 2019. "The global value chain and internalization theory," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1414-1423, October.
    24. Rossella CANESTRINO & Pierpaolo MAGLIOCCA, 2010. "Managing Expatriation, Repatriation and Organisational Learning in MNCs: an Integrative Framework," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(2), pages 186-200, May.
    25. Lo, Fang-Yi, 2016. "Intra-MNE advantage transfer and subsidiary innovativeness: The moderating effect of international diversification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1712-1717.
    26. Choi, Soon-Gwon & Johanson, Jan, 2012. "Knowledge translation through expatriates in international knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 1148-1157.
    27. Liliana Pérez‐Nordtvedt & Ben L. Kedia & Deepak K. Datta & Abdul A. Rasheed, 2008. "Effectiveness and Efficiency of Cross‐Border Knowledge Transfer: An Empirical Examination," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(4), pages 714-744, June.
    28. Jarvis, Cheryl Burke & MacKenzie, Scott B & Podsakoff, Philip M, 2003. "A Critical Review of Construct Indicators and Measurement Model Misspecification in Marketing and Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 30(2), pages 199-218, September.
    29. Minbaeva, Dana & Park, Chansoo & Vertinsky, Ilan & Cho, Yeon Sung, 2018. "Disseminative capacity and knowledge acquisition from foreign partners in international joint ventures," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 712-724.
    30. Williams, Christopher & Lee, Soo Hee, 2016. "Knowledge flows in the emerging market MNC: The role of subsidiary HRM practices in Korean MNCs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 233-243.
    31. Argote, Linda & Ingram, Paul & Levine, John M. & Moreland, Richard L., 2000. "Knowledge Transfer in Organizations: Learning from the Experience of Others," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 1-8, May.
    32. Rezny, Lukas & White, James Buchanan & Maresova, Petra, 2019. "The knowledge economy: Key to sustainable development?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 291-300.
    33. Norihito Furuya & Michael J Stevens & Allan Bird & Gary Oddou & Mark Mendenhall, 2009. "Managing the learning and transfer of global management competence: Antecedents and outcomes of Japanese repatriation effectiveness," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(2), pages 200-215, February.
    34. Wang, Na & Hua, Ying & Wu, Guoying & Zhao, Chunxia & Wang, Yonggui, 2019. "Reverse transfer of innovation and subsidiary power: A moderated mediation model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 328-337.
    35. Gabriel Szulanski & Dimo Ringov & Robert J. Jensen, 2016. "Overcoming Stickiness: How the Timing of Knowledge Transfer Methods Affects Transfer Difficulty," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 304-322, April.
    36. Zeng, Rong & Grøgaard, Birgitte & Steel, Piers, 2018. "Complements or substitutes? A meta-analysis of the role of integration mechanisms for knowledge transfer in the MNE network," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 415-432.
    37. Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Martín Martín, Oscar, 2018. "Expatriate managers' relationships and reverse knowledge transfer within emerging market MNCs: The mediating role of subsidiary willingness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 216-229.
    38. Soon Ang & Linn Van Dyne & Christine Koh & K. Yee Ng & Klaus J. Templer & Cheryl Tay & N. Anand Chandrasekar, 2007. "Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 3(3), pages 335-371, November.
    39. Ang, Soon & Van Dyne, Linn & Koh, Christine & Ng, K. Yee & Templer, Klaus J. & Tay, Cheryl & Chandrasekar, N. Anand, 2007. "Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(3), pages 335-371, November.
    40. Buckley, Peter J. & Clegg, Jeremy & Tan, Hui, 2006. "Cultural awareness in knowledge transfer to China--The role of guanxi and mianzi," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 275-288, September.
    41. Changjun Yi & Xueyu Xu & Chusheng Chen & Yenchun Jim Wu, 2020. "Institutional Distance, Organizational Learning, and Innovation Performance: Outward Foreign Direct Investment by Chinese Multinational Enterprises," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 370-391, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. López-Sáez, Pedro & Cruz-González, Jorge & Navas-López, Jose Emilio & Perona-Alfageme, María del Mar, 2021. "Organizational integration mechanisms and knowledge transfer effectiveness in MNCs: The moderating role of cross-national distance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    2. Fortwengel, Johann & Gutierrez Huerter O, Gabriela & Kostova, Tatiana, 2023. "Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    3. Burmeister, Anne & Lazarova, Mila B. & Deller, Jürgen, 2018. "Repatriate knowledge transfer: Antecedents and boundary conditions of a dyadic process," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 806-816.
    4. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2019. "Microfoundations in international management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1594-1621, December.
    5. Lee, Steve Kyungjae & Ghauri, Pervez N. & Oh, Kum-Sik & Xiao, Shufeng (Simon) & Park, Byung Il & Romero-Martínez, Ana M., 2024. "Reverse knowledge transfer from subsidiaries to headquarters: Chinese firms in Africa," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    6. Schlägel, Christopher & Sarstedt, Marko, 2016. "Assessing the measurement invariance of the four-dimensional cultural intelligence scale across countries: A composite model approach," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 633-649.
    7. Yang, Yong & Driffield, Nigel, 2022. "Leveraging the benefits of location decisions into performance: A global view from matched MNEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 468-483.
    8. Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh & Robson, Matthew J. & Zaefarian, Ghasem & Andersson, Ulf & Yu, Chong, 2018. "Building subsidiary local responsiveness: (When) does the directionality of intrafirm knowledge transfers matter?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 475-492.
    9. Chakravarty, Dwarka & Goerzen, Anthony & Musteen, Martina & Ahsan, Mujtaba, 2021. "Global cities: A multi-disciplinary review and research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    10. Zhang, Feng & Jiang, Guohua & Cantwell, John A., 2019. "Geographically Dispersed Technological Capability Building and MNC Innovative Performance: The Role of Intra-firm Flows of Newly Absorbed Knowledge," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 1-1.
    11. Su, Cong & Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Holm, Ulf, 2020. "Demand and willingness for knowledge transfer in springboard subsidiaries of Chinese multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 297-309.
    12. Liu, Ting & Li, Xizhuo, 2022. "How Do MNCs Conduct Local Technological Innovation in a Host Country? An Examination From Subsidiaries' Perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    13. Ouyang, Huimin & Park, Chansoo & Oh, Chang Hoon, 2024. "The impact of reverse knowledge transfers on exploitative and exploratory innovations in MNCs: The role of knowledge distance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Wu, Yan & Strange, Roger & Shirodkar, Vikrant, 2021. "MNE divestments of foreign affiliates: Does the strategic role of the affiliate have an impact?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 266-278.
    15. Vlajčić, Davor & Caputo, Andrea & Marzi, Giacomo & Dabić, Marina, 2019. "Expatriates managers’ cultural intelligence as promoter of knowledge transfer in multinational companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 367-377.
    16. Wu, Yan & Strange, Roger & Shirodkar, Vikrant, 2022. "Lateral knowledge transfer and foreign affiliate performance: The importance of affiliate strategic roles," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    17. Paul, Justin & Feliciano-Cestero, María M., 2021. "Five decades of research on foreign direct investment by MNEs: An overview and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 800-812.
    18. Chung-Jen Chen & Ya-Hui Lin & Shan-Huei Wang & Ruey-Shan Guo, 2022. "Parent-subsidiary linkage: How resource commitment and resource similarity influence firm performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 615-658, June.
    19. Rajneesh Narula & Christian Geisler Asmussen & Tailan Chi & Sumit Kumar Kundu, 2019. "Applying and advancing internalization theory: The multinational enterprise in the twenty-first century," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1231-1252, October.
    20. Andersson, Ulf & Dasí, Àngels & Mudambi, Ram & Pedersen, Torben, 2016. "Technology, innovation and knowledge: The importance of ideas and international connectivity," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 153-162.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14074-:d:956512. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.