Reverse knowledge absorptive capacity of MNE-HQ (RKAC): conceptualization, theoretical framework, and empirical testing
Abstract
Despite the increasing importance of reverse knowledge for innovation and competitive advantage of multinational enterprises (MNEs), the issue of how to make reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) more effective is under-explored. Specifically, what constitutes the absorptive capacity of MNEs' headquarters (HQ), the receiver of reverse knowledge, remains conceptually vague and empirically inconsistent. This study develops a broad conceptualization of MNE-HQs' reverse knowledge absorptive capacity--the RKAC--that integrates two major perspectives, namely motivation-ability view, and process-based view of absorptive capacity. Departing from previous studies that treat absorptive capacity as a generic construct, the broad construct of RKAC is developed for each specific HQ-subsidiary dyad. This study also proposes a theoretical framework that accounts for the antecedents, outcomes, and boundary conditions of RKAC. The proposed model was empirically tested with survey data collected from 206 executive mangers of subsidiaries operating in China. The results supported the theoretical conceptualization and the majority of the proposed hypotheses.
Degree
Ph. D.