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Language and Social Knowledge in Foreign-Knowledge Transfer to China

Author

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  • PETER J. BUCKLEY
  • MARTIN J. CARTER
  • JEREMY CLEGG
  • HUI TAN

Abstract

This paper establishes that transfer of knowledge across national borders within multinational enterprises depends both on a common language necessary for communication and on the shared social knowledge necessary to understand and predict the behavior of those engaged in the knowledge-transfer process. In a set of four case studies, it was found that knowledge transfer is more effective when technical and social knowledge are transferred together. Besides, ownership structure affects the understanding and transfer of social knowledge, while rich person-to-person contact in multinational teams provides an effective means of transferring social knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter J. Buckley & Martin J. Carter & Jeremy Clegg & Hui Tan, 2005. "Language and Social Knowledge in Foreign-Knowledge Transfer to China," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 47-65, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:mimoxx:v:35:y:2005:i:1:p:47-65
    DOI: 10.1080/00208825.2005.11043724
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    Cited by:

    1. Shao, Jun Jie & Ariss, Akram AL, 2020. "Knowledge transfer between self-initiated expatriates and their organizations: Research propositions for managing SIEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(1).
    2. Schomaker, Margaret Spring & Zaheer, Srilata, 2014. "The Role of Language in Knowledge Transfer to Geographically Dispersed Manufacturing Operations," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 55-72.
    3. Denice E. Welch & Lawrence S. Welch, 2008. "The importance of language in international knowledge transfer," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 339-360, May.
    4. Peltokorpi, Vesa, 2022. "Headhunter-assisted recruiting practices in foreign subsidiaries and their (dys)functional effects: An institutional work perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(6).
    5. Pankaj Kumar & Swanand J. Deodhar & Srilata Zaheer, 2023. "Cognitive sources of liability of foreignness in crowdsourcing creative work," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(4), pages 686-716, June.
    6. Schubert, Torben & Baier, Elisabeth & Rammer, Christian, 2017. "Firm Capabilities, Technological Dynamism and Innovation Internationalisation – a Behavioural Approach," Papers in Innovation Studies 2017/13, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    7. Liu, Xiaohui & Gao, Lan & Lu, Jiangyong & Wei, Yingqi, 2015. "The role of highly skilled migrants in the process of inter-firm knowledge transfer across borders," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 56-68.
    8. Amy Church-Morel & A. Bartel-Radic, 2014. ""Not all multilingual teams are created equal " : Conceptualizing language diversity management," Post-Print halshs-01185822, HAL.
    9. Björkman, Anette & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2009. "Language and foreign subsidiary control: An empirical test," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 105-117, March.
    10. Schubert, Torben & Baier, Elisabeth & Rammer, Christian, 2016. "Technological capabilities, technological dynamism and innovation offshoring," ZEW Discussion Papers 16-044, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    11. Sears, Joshua B., 2018. "Post-acquisition integrative versus independent innovation: A story of dueling success factors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1688-1699.
    12. Konara, Palitha & Wei, Yingqi, 2019. "The complementarity of human capital and language capital in foreign direct investment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 391-404.
    13. Ana Cristina Alves & Celia Lee, 2022. "Knowledge Transfer in the Global South: Reusing or Creating Knowledge in China’s Special Economic Zones in Ethiopia and Cambodia?," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(S1), pages 45-57, April.
    14. Torben Schubert & Elisabeth Baier & Christian Rammer, 2018. "Firm capabilities, technological dynamism and the internationalisation of innovation: A behavioural approach," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(1), pages 70-95, January.
    15. Peltokorpi, Vesa, 2017. "Absorptive capacity in foreign subsidiaries: The effects of language-sensitive recruitment, language training, and interunit knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 119-129.
    16. Vesa Peltokorpi, 2023. "The “language” of career success: The effects of English language competence on local employees’ career outcomes in foreign subsidiaries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(2), pages 258-284, March.
    17. Jihad Ait Soussane & Mohamed Yassine Fakhouri & Ayoub Sabir Almaslouhi & Zahra Mansouri, . "Does language affect the location choice of developing-economy MNEs? The case of Moroccan outward FDI," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    18. Wang, Qiu & Clegg, Jeremy & Gajewska-De Mattos, Hanna & Buckley, Peter, 2020. "The role of emotions in intercultural business communication: Language standardization in the context of international knowledge transfer," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    19. Peltokorpi, Vesa, 2015. "Corporate Language Proficiency and Reverse Knowledge Transfer in Multinational Corporations: Interactive Effects of Communication Media Richness and Commitment to Headquarters," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 49-62.
    20. Aichhorn, Nathalie & Puck, Jonas, 2017. "Bridging the language gap in multinational companies: Language strategies and the notion of company-speak," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 386-403.
    21. Xiaohui Liu & Jiangyong Lu & Seong-jin Choi, 2014. "Bridging Knowledge Gaps: Returnees and Reverse Knowledge Spillovers from Chinese Local Firms to Foreign Firms," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 253-276, April.
    22. Michailova, Snejina & Mustaffa, Zaidah, 2012. "Subsidiary knowledge flows in multinational corporations: Research accomplishments, gaps, and opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 383-396.
    23. Wang, Mingchu & Wei, Yingqi & Azumah, Gideon & Wang, Catherine L., 2024. "African returnees in international knowledge transfer: A social capital perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    24. Latukha, Marina & Doleeva, Anna & Järlström, Maria & Jokinen, Tiina & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2016. "Does corporate language influence career mobility? Evidence from MNCs in Russia," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 363-373.

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