| Even though our understanding of organizational knowledge has increased dramatically over the past decade, there is still much to be learned, especially when considering the elusive nature of knowledge together with its criticality to multinational corporations (MNCs) today. Moreover, context is often referred to as a determining factor in explaining knowledge transfers but is rarely profoundly explored.;This paper strives at understanding what influences the nature of an organization's knowledge base, as well as what determines the difficulty level experienced by MNCs in intrafirm knowledge transfers. We claim that both internal and external factors shape an organization's ability to hold, utilize and transfer knowledge. These factors can be clustered into five central contextual dimensions: cultural, decision-making, technological, environmental, and strategic. We identify three types of knowledge pockets: within knowledge state (currently utilized), within knowledge spectrum (has potential of being utilized with relatively low effort) and in dissonance to the knowledge spectrum (utilization would require high effort).;The realm of our study is international, intra-firm knowledge transfer. We empirically investigate what determines the eventfulness of transferring such knowledge to another organizational unit. We suggest that critical contextual similarity will determine transfer eventfulness level. Critical contextual variables (CCVs) are defined as the contextual elements that surround each knowledge pocket and enable its effective utilization. Critical contextual similarity is thus the level of such CCVs at the recipient unit. Context is considered here, uniquely, in micro rather than macro terms: critical context similarity is measured at the individual knowledge pocket level rather than in general terms on the organizational unit level.;Six case studies were collected and analyzed, in three MNCs. Our findings support the proposition that critical contextual similarity is negatively correlated to transfer eventfulness. The cultural contextual dimension was the most salient in explaining transfer eventfulness. As well, fit between the transferred knowledge type and the mediums used to transfer it was negatively correlated to eventfulness. Other variables that were found to influence transfer eventfulness were: quality of relationship between source and recipient, knowledge complexity and source past experience. The research also suggests leadership and input control as transfer eventfulness determinants. |
