The micro-contextual conditions that influence host-country nationals’ decisions about horizontal knowledge sharing in multinational enterprises in China

Abstract

This study explores the ‘micro-contextual’ conditions (individual, situational, interpersonal) affecting the willingness of host country nationals (HCNs) to share knowledge with peers in overseas subsidiaries. Our interviews with Chinese consultants in foreign-owned multinational firms in China extend current understanding of the breadth and types of considerations HCNs weigh up. We show that both collaborative and competitive dynamics shape their willingness to share knowledge, with self-interest typically trumping organizational interests. We also draw attention to the performative nature of knowledge sharing by revealing how HCNs’ perceptions of the knowledge-sharing processes, not just the outcomes, matter. Considerations like the difficulty, the visibility, and the actors involved in the process all contribute to HCNs’ willingness to share knowledge with other subsidiaries.