Michailova and Jormanainen, “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms: whose absorptive capacity is in question?”: A reply
Critical Perspectives on International Business
ISSN: 1742-2043
Article publication date: 25 October 2011
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to provide comments on Michailova and Jormanainen's paper, “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms: whose absorptive capacity is in question?” (CPoIB, Vol. 7 No. 3).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper offers a critical analysis of issues regarding knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity in the context of business interactions between Russian and Western firms.
Findings
The paper argues that knowledge transfer between Russian and foreign firms is a two‐way road, and the role of “competence brokers” is very important.
Research limitations/implications
The paper invites scholars to examine knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms with a more “stereoscopic view” by distinguishing various kinds of actors within both Russian and foreign firms.
Practical implications
Researchers are invited to put less emphasis on citing theoretical articles and to bring more attention to cases, documentary evidence of firms' actions and articles in less popular journals focused on East European management.
Originality/value
The commentary provides a more detailed view on knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms.
Keywords
Citation
Gurkov, I. (2011), "Michailova and Jormanainen, “Knowledge transfer between Russian and Western firms: whose absorptive capacity is in question?”: A reply", Critical Perspectives on International Business, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 343-349. https://doi.org/10.1108/17422041111180773
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited