From hiding to sharing: a knowledge hiding perspective on knowledge management in MNEs
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge is a vital strategic resource for multinational enterprises (MNEs). As MNEs expand internationally, knowledge transfer through expatriates is a crucial part of the value proposition of outward foreign direct investment. However, this is undermined if knowledge is hidden rather than shared. Given the scarcity of research on knowledge hiding in MNEs, this paper aims to investigate this phenomenon among expatriates and develops a new framework to analyze knowledge hiding.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data from 201 Chinese MNE expatriates is collected and analyzed using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling to test the relationships between knowledge hiding, organizational practices, cultural intelligence and job embeddedness. Relevant organizational practices based on the ability-motivation-opportunity enhancing framework were identified, based on 24 semi-structured qualitative interviews which guided the quantitative analysis.
Findings
The direct effects of organizational practices on all types of knowledge hiding are limited. However, organizational practices’ influence on knowledge hiding is mediated by the cultural intelligence of expatriates, and this relationship is moderated by job embeddedness.
Originality/value
The research advances current thinking about knowledge management and outlines both theoretical and practical implications at organizational and societal levels. It explores the mechanisms for remedying knowledge hiding through organizational practices, including the interactive effects of cultural intelligence and job embeddedness among expatriates. Organizational knowledge management strategies in MNEs need to recognize cultural differences and improve job embeddedness to form the basis of successful knowledge transfer.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and help. They also would like to acknowledge Prof. Eric Tsui from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Dr Lei Li from The University of Nottingham Ningbo China for their insightful suggestions on this research. Finally, this study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 72202111).
Citation
Zhi, R., Lockett, M. and Zhou, A.J. (2024), "From hiding to sharing: a knowledge hiding perspective on knowledge management in MNEs", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-12-2023-1301
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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