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Knowledge sourcing from advanced markets subsidiaries: political embeddedness and reverse knowledge transfer barriers in emerging-market multinationals

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  • Francesco Ciabuschi
  • Lingshuang Kong
  • Cong Su

Abstract

This article focuses on emerging-market multinationals and their intent to source knowledge from advanced countries. A single in-depth case study of a Chinese state-owned multinational is used to shed light on the relationship between political embeddedness and the potential to reverse knowledge transfer from advanced market subsidiaries. Specifically, we argue that a strong home-country political embeddedness enhances specific organizational barriers to reverse knowledge transfer, which undermines the strategic intent of knowledge-seeking internationalization, common to much Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by emerging-market multinationals in recent years. This article contributes to research on knowledge sourcing within the context of south-north FDI by highlighting specific effects of political embeddedness at organizational level, which are critical for the possibilities to reverse knowledge transfer; our study is also relevant to international business, as new empirical insights related to the international organization and management of state-owned multinationals are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Ciabuschi & Lingshuang Kong & Cong Su, 2017. "Knowledge sourcing from advanced markets subsidiaries: political embeddedness and reverse knowledge transfer barriers in emerging-market multinationals," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 26(2), pages 311-332.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:26:y:2017:i:2:p:311-332.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/icc/dtx001
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Xinli & Liang, Yanze & Webber, Don, 2024. "Strategic asset-seeking acquisitions by emerging market multinational enterprises and the liability of emergingness," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    2. 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.
    3. Lô, Amadou & Geiger, Martha, 2022. "Managing internal embeddedness in multinational corporations’ R&D subsidiaries: An evolutionary perspective on the automotive industry in Silicon Valley," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    4. Mico Apostolov, 2017. "The impact of FDI on the performance and entrepreneurship of domestic firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 390-415, December.
    5. Su, Cong & Holm, Ulf & Martín Martín, Oscar, 2024. "Liability of political embeddedness in Chinese multinationals: Implications for headquarters’ roles and reverse knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3).
    6. Gölgeci, Ismail & Ferraris, Alberto & Arslan, Ahmad & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2019. "European MNE subsidiaries' embeddedness and innovation performance: Moderating role of external search depth and breadth," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 97-108.
    7. Su, Cong & Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Yan, Haifeng, 2021. "Reverse innovation transfer in Chinese MNCs: The role of political ties and headquarters," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    8. 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.
    9. Su, Cong & Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco, 2022. "Innovativeness and the relevance of political ties in Chinese MNEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 494-508.
    10. Su, Cong & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Kong, Lingshuang, 2023. "Headquarters parenting advantage in Chinese MNEs: The moderating role of top managers’ political and International experience," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    11. Liu, Min & Su, Cong & Wang, Fangfang & Huang, Liangxiong, 2020. "Chinese cross-border M&As in the “One Belt One Road” countries: The impact of Confucius Institutes," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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