Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development

Esther Tippmann; Pamela Sharkey Scott; Andrew Parker

doi:10.1111/joms.12253

Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development

Esther Tippmann, Pamela Sharkey Scott, Andrew Parker

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The management of knowledge across country units is critical to multinational corporations (MNCs). Building on the argument that boundary spanning leads to the development of creative problem solving outcomes, this study advances the concept of MNC knowledge transformation and examines its relationship with solution creativity. Using questionnaire data on 67 problem solving projects, we find that opportunity formation is an underlying mechanism linking MNC knowledge transformation to the development of creative solutions. These insights contribute to our understanding of boundary spanning in global organizations by substantiating MNC knowledge transformation and elaborating the relationship between boundary spanning and creative solution development. If successful at knowledge transformation, collaborators from across the MNC can construct previously unimagined opportunities for the generation of creative outcomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	455-482
Number of pages	28
Journal	Journal of Management Studies
Volume	54
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12253
Publication status	Published - Jun 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

MNE/MNC management
boundary spanning
knowledge transformation
opportunity formation
problem solving
subsidiaries

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10.1111/joms.12253

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title = "Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development",

abstract = "The management of knowledge across country units is critical to multinational corporations (MNCs). Building on the argument that boundary spanning leads to the development of creative problem solving outcomes, this study advances the concept of MNC knowledge transformation and examines its relationship with solution creativity. Using questionnaire data on 67 problem solving projects, we find that opportunity formation is an underlying mechanism linking MNC knowledge transformation to the development of creative solutions. These insights contribute to our understanding of boundary spanning in global organizations by substantiating MNC knowledge transformation and elaborating the relationship between boundary spanning and creative solution development. If successful at knowledge transformation, collaborators from across the MNC can construct previously unimagined opportunities for the generation of creative outcomes.",

keywords = "MNE/MNC management, boundary spanning, knowledge transformation, opportunity formation, problem solving, subsidiaries",

author = "Esther Tippmann and \{Sharkey Scott\}, Pamela and Andrew Parker",

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year = "2017",

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doi = "10.1111/joms.12253",

language = "English",

volume = "54",

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AU - Tippmann, Esther

AU - Sharkey Scott, Pamela

AU - Parker, Andrew

PY - 2017/6

Y1 - 2017/6

N2 - The management of knowledge across country units is critical to multinational corporations (MNCs). Building on the argument that boundary spanning leads to the development of creative problem solving outcomes, this study advances the concept of MNC knowledge transformation and examines its relationship with solution creativity. Using questionnaire data on 67 problem solving projects, we find that opportunity formation is an underlying mechanism linking MNC knowledge transformation to the development of creative solutions. These insights contribute to our understanding of boundary spanning in global organizations by substantiating MNC knowledge transformation and elaborating the relationship between boundary spanning and creative solution development. If successful at knowledge transformation, collaborators from across the MNC can construct previously unimagined opportunities for the generation of creative outcomes.

AB - The management of knowledge across country units is critical to multinational corporations (MNCs). Building on the argument that boundary spanning leads to the development of creative problem solving outcomes, this study advances the concept of MNC knowledge transformation and examines its relationship with solution creativity. Using questionnaire data on 67 problem solving projects, we find that opportunity formation is an underlying mechanism linking MNC knowledge transformation to the development of creative solutions. These insights contribute to our understanding of boundary spanning in global organizations by substantiating MNC knowledge transformation and elaborating the relationship between boundary spanning and creative solution development. If successful at knowledge transformation, collaborators from across the MNC can construct previously unimagined opportunities for the generation of creative outcomes.

KW - MNE/MNC management

KW - boundary spanning

KW - knowledge transformation

KW - opportunity formation

KW - problem solving

KW - subsidiaries

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DO - 10.1111/joms.12253

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VL - 54

SP - 455

EP - 482

JO - Journal of Management Studies

JF - Journal of Management Studies

IS - 4

ER -

Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development

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Keywords

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