Knowledge Transfer Between Tnc Affiliates

Currently the academic world is changing its view on MNC from a single organization to a differentiated network organization, which means the competitiveness of these units depends on the sharing of the network resources. The point of view originates from the traditional recourse-based opinion: The ground on which the MNC was founded is that the units of MNCs could share and transfer resources especially knowledge more efficiently via internal channel than external market. The sharing and transfering knowledge among the peer subsidiaries of MNC provides an opportunity to raise the performance of MNC. Some scholars have proved the importance on the sharing of the knowledge among peer subsidiaries. However, there are merely few researches that have provided experimental evidence on this connection. Most of researches on the knowledge transfer concentrate on the characteristic of the receiver, the sender and the knowledge itself. And the attention has been paid on the prerequisite of the knowledge sharing and the internal and external studies of MNC. However, few researches focus on knowledge transfer among the peer subsidiaries of MNC. The researches on the relationship between the knowledge transfer and the performance of MNC are more scant.After nail down the research background and theme, and though the introduction the theory of the knowledge transfer and the theme of the subsidiaries of MNCs knowledge transfer, further confirms the four concrete research questions on the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries, and performed theoretic and experimental researches that enclose the theme knowledge transfer among subsidiaries of this thesis: (1) the internal and external relations on the transfer of the knowledge among subsidiaries. (2) the mechanisms of the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries. (3) the social ground of the knowledge transfer between subsidiaries. (4) the relationship between the elements of the knowledge transfer and the effect of the knowledge transfer and its ultimate influence to the performance of the company.The theory do a systemic review on the founding of the MNC knowledge based theory and the theory of the knowledge transfer within MNC, and first points out the ground on which the MNC exists as the knowledge transfer entity. Second, from the perspective of the MNC evolution theory instead of traditional MNC internalization theory and from the angle of interest acquisition instead of trade cost saving, analyzes the issue of knowledge transfer. Third, the maximization of the overall economic benefit of the subsidiary companies needs a multi-national solution that could combine the global integration with local response. This dissertation lists the several classic subsidiary knowledge transfer models as the starting point and the sample of the theory studies of this research.Second, on the basis of the theory of MNC knowledge transfer, this dissertation explains the role founding of subsidiaries in the knowledge share within MNCs from 3 aspects namely the appointment of the parent company, the influence of the local environment and the selection of the subsidiaries, and produces the comprehensivemodel of the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries of MNCs. Based on this model, this research then do a systematic analysis, on the internal and external relationship of the subsidiaries regarding the knowledge transfer and the characteristics of subsidiaries demonstrated in the process of the knowledge transfer and its relevant mechanism and the social foundation of the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries. This research therefore provides the motivation and the obstacle that the subsidiaries confronted in the process of knowledge transfer, and provide a practical way on the management of the knowledge transfer among the subsidiaries of MNC. Also, the positioning of the theory has been solved partially.Third, based on the theoretic explanation of the relation elements, system element and social element that influence the knowledge transfer among subsidiary companies, via the design and the analysis of the concept model, this article has established the concept model of the knowledge transfer between the subsidiary companies, which consists of 3 basic aspects (the coopetition relationship, the controlling method of the parent company and social ground). The MNC subsidiaries in shanghai are selected as sample of experimental research, the structural equation(LISREL) and statistic analysis(SASS) are applied in the experimental researches, and all hypotheses are validated.Fourth, by analyzing the cases of the resource sharing about the typical MNC subsidiary companies, proved the reasonability and the necessity of the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries within MNC. Via the study on the system and the method on knowledge transfer among subsidiaries of Guangzhou Honda and Heidelberg Cement, this dissertation has provided for our national MNC relevant and favorable reference on the knowledge transfer management.Fifth, raising some suggestions on the knowledge management of the oversea subsidiaries of Chinese MNC, and made a brief summary on this research , indicated the future direction of the field of research and the incoming challenge.By utilizing the relevant theory about the economics, management and socialism, to systemically analyze the relationship, mechanism and social foundations of the knowledge transfer among MNC subsidiaries, and has established the conceptual model of the elements influencing knowledge transfer, the effect of knowledge transfer and the performance of subsidiaries. And the research performed with normative analysis and experimental analysis, the qualitative analysis and the quantitative analysis. It uncovers the elements regarding the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries of MNCs, and discovers that the knowledge transfer among subsidiaries could significantly raise the performance of subsidiary companies. This research not only develops the theory on the MNC knowledge transfer, but also provides necessary theoretic supports and practice instructions to increase the competitiveness of the Chinese MNCs which are eager to play a bigger role in the global market.