Sharing Expertise within the MNC Is Increasingly Fluid and Challenging

Abstract

While multinational companies rely on their global expertise for gaining competitive advantage, sharing expertise has become increasingly fluid and challenging. This poses a major challenge to experts – individuals who are hired for their specialized skills and knowledge – as they work in multiple global teams simultaneously. The dissertation summary takes the perspective of experts and provides novel insight into the “new forms of collaborating,” highlighting the importance of creating shared understanding, negotiating expertise, and gaining attention across teams and locations. The findings demonstrate that effective sharing expertise is a bottom-up process, in which individuals’ efforts complement the team and organizational practices.