Research Proposal
Difficulties and effect on the Knowledge transfer in MNC’s
Name: Hasan Zarei
Student ID: S0262538
Course Facilitator-Melbourne
Dr.FirewBeshah
Abstract
Globalization in the business these days forces the companies to expand their business across the borders. However, this is not an easy task to perform as it requires an interaction between the local people with the foreign country people so that implementation of the business can be done (Teigland&Wasko, 2009). This study mainly focuses on the different types of difficulties faced by the MNC’s in terms of social interaction as well as in terms of transferring of knowledge. This topic is essential to be researched because companies have to resolve this issue in in order to get success across the borders.
Table of Contents
Problem statement 3
Research aim and objectives 3
Methodology 3
Type of study 3
Data collection 4
Sources of information 4
Expected results 4
References 5
Problem statement
When any of the company expands its business and set up a subsidiary in another country than it is required to share the knowledge between those companies(Jeong, Chae& Park, 2016). This knowledge sharing can only be possible if the workforce of different countries communicate with each other. Due to differences in their culture and the society, problem may exist. Problem statement explains the issues of the research. This study is proposed in order to determine difficulties that developed at the time of knowledge transfer among the MNC’s and the effect of different factors on the knowledge transfer process such as cultural differences, social interaction etc.
Research aim and objectives
The aim and the objective of the research clearlydefine the purpose of conducting the research. It defines the major idea for which the research has been conducted. According the above discussion, the aim and objectives of this research is:
• To explore the knowledge sharing among the MNC’s
• To identify role of social interaction in knowledge sharing process
• To assess the factors that act as the barriers in knowledge sharing among MNC’s
Methodology
Type of study: Research design is the tool that helps to determine the type and the process of research. It explains the pattern of the research conducted in order toresolve the problem of the research (Quinlan, 2015). The type of research is exploratory in nature. This is because the various ideas and the effects of the different factors on knowledge transfer have been explored in the research. Qualitative analysis is done in order to conduct the research. The analysis is qualitative because many case studies about different companies have been studied to assess the methods and the process that is used by those companies for transferring the knowledge.
Data collection: The data collection method that been used for conducting the research is questionnaire that has been formed for the managers of the MNS’s. The questions are made in such a way that describes the way in which knowledge transfer is done in their company. Some of the questions deal with the factors affectingknowledge transfer so that information about the same can be extracted. The data acquired by this method is primary in nature and secondary data is collected by studying the case studies of various MNC’s. After assessing the case studies, it has been determined that most of the MNC’s used the process of expatriationin order to transfer the knowledge. Expatriation is the process that deals with sending the mangers from the parent company to the subsidiary company’s country (Peltokorpi&Vaara, 2014). The manager first gets the every type of training before reaching the destination country.
Sources of information: Sources of information can be defined as the informant that provides the information or the data regarding the research. It is very much essential to find the relevant source of information to conduct the research. In the have case, the sources that are used to acquire the information are the managers of the MNC’s and the information mentioned in the case studies for different companies. It can be acquired from the internet sources.
Expected results
Expatriation is the process used to share the knowledge among the MNC’s and the companies also implemented diversification in the workforce to cut down the barriers of communication (Minbaeva, Pedersen, Björkman& Fey, 2014). The major reason that acts as the barrier for knowledge sharing is the difference in culture of the people. This can be overcome by hiring the diverse workforce in the organization and providing training to the employees so that they can easily interact and communicate with each other. Every employee should have respect of each other’s culture.
References
Jeong, G., Chae, M., & Park, B. (2016). Reverse knowledge transfer from subsidiaries to multinational companies: Focusing on factors affecting market knowledge transfer. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 1(1).
Minbaeva, D. B., Pedersen, T., Björkman, I., & Fey, C. F. (2014). A retrospective on: MNC knowledge transfer, subsidiary absorptive capacity, and HRM. Journal of International Business Studies, 45(1), 52-62.
Noorderhaven, N., &Harzing, A. (2008). Knowledge sharing and social interaction within mncs. Journal of International Business Studies.
Peltokorpi, V., &Vaara, E. (2014). Knowledge transfer in multinational corporations: Productive and counterproductive effects of language-sensitive recruitment. Journal of International Business Studies, 45(5), 600-622.
Quinlan, C. (2015). Business research methods. Andover: Cengage Learning EMEA.
Teigland, R., &Wasko, M. (2009). Knowledge transfer in MNCs: Examining how intrinsic motivations and knowledge sourcing impact individual centrality and performance. Journal of International Management, 15(1), 15-31.