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2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

16. Knowledge Sharing Across National Cultural Boundaries and Multinational Corporations

Authors : Jakob Lauring, Ling Eleanor Zhang

Published in: The Palgrave Handbook of Knowledge Management

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

In this chapter, we describe and discuss processes of knowledge sharing between and within multinational corporation (MNC) business units. While knowledge and knowledge sharing have become increasingly important in all business sectors, this is particularly true for MNCs. A main reason for that is the diversity and dispersion of the MNC: MNCs employ individuals located in different regions with different types of skills and useful knowledge. The sharing of ideas and perspectives can thus be highly valuable in order to create a competitive edge. However, the diverse and dispersed organization of MNCs also creates many challenges for effective knowledge sharing. Therefore, MNCs need to deal with the paradoxical relationship between these two aspects. Based on empirical research in two Danish MNCs, we examine the link between barriers preventing knowledge sharing and the social and sociotechnical factors influencing interaction between and within business units.

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Title: Knowledge Sharing Across National Cultural Boundaries and Multinational Corporations
Authors: Jakob Lauring
Ling Eleanor Zhang
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Book: The Palgrave Handbook of Knowledge Management
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71433-2

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-71434-9

Copyright Year: 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71434-9_16