MNEs Knowledge Management Process in China

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The research aims to understand the concept of knowledge transfer process inside an alliance, for the sustainable growth of MNEs in emerging markets. The introduction chapter covers a little background of the research, along with the research aims and objectives focusing on understanding and examining the knowledge transfer process in alliance (MNEs). The objectives of the research developed are: to examine the knowledge transfer process in MNEs; to understand the importance of knowledge transfer; and to understand how successful knowledge transfer can be achieved within an alliance.

For achieving the aim, the research develops understanding on the basis of previous literature, focusing on the concepts of knowledge management, knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing. Knowledge management in organizations seeks to replace the lost knowledge through a variety of means including the outsourcing of lost capabilities, the regeneration of lost knowledge, or the retention of the services of retired, knowledgeable individuals. Knowledge transfer in organizations is the process through which one unit is affected by the experience of another. At the individual level knowledge transfer is how knowledge acquired in one situation applies or fails to apply to another situation". Effective knowledge transfer requires the ability to name the information necessary to meet business imperatives, identify information the company has that others could benefit from, and then create a way for the information to become knowledge for others. Knowledge sharing in this context is defined as searching for or transferring knowledge among the members of the solution account team and/or the members of the customer buying centre.

The research also discusses various factors affecting knowledge transfer and the relation between knowledge transfer and MNEs. The research highlights that there are two dominant approaches by which MNCs can minimize the negative performance implications of liability of foreignness. First, MNCs can choose the appropriate entry mode and/or entry time. Second, MNCs can learn in the foreign markets (Bartlett & Ghoshal, 2003, 175). The two approaches have different theoretical underpinnings: the former is rooted in internalization theory, while the latter in organizational learning and the incremental internationalization theory. Furthermore, the research also studies different researches presented by several authors regarding the concept of knowledge creation. Along with this, the research also puts lights on the existing literature regarding the factors that affect the process of knowledge transfer.

The method of investigation used, consists of a theoretical framework of secondary data by reviewing the scenario of knowledge management. Using survey results, this research has furthermore; identify the role of knowledge management in developing sustainable growth for ...