Combining Stocks and Flows of Knowledge: The Effects of Intra-Functional and Cross-Functional Complementarity

32 Pages Posted: 15 Sep 2012

See all articles by Tina Ambos

Tina Ambos

Johannes Kepler University Linz

Phillip C. Nell

Vienna University of Economics and Business - Department of Global Business and Trade; Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation

Torben Pedersen

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategic Management and Globalization

Date Written: June 6, 2012

Abstract

In the area of knowledge management and knowledge governance, previous research has mostly focused on either knowledge stocks or knowledge flows of firms or organizational units. Contrary to this work, our study is among the first to integrate these two perspectives in order to shed light on the complementarity effects of different types of knowledge stocks and flows in the multinational corporation (MNC). We investigate intra-functional as well as cross-functional complementarity effects from the perspective of the knowledge recipient. We test the impact of stocks on flows on the benefit that is created for MNC units. Based on a comprehensive sample of 324 relationships between MNC units we find that both types of complementarity create benefits for these units, but that the effects from intra-functional combinations of knowledge stocks and flows are significantly stronger than from cross-functional combinations.

Keywords: Knowledge management, knowledge stocks, knowledge flows, knowledge transfer, transfer benefits

JEL Classification: M1

Suggested Citation

Ambos, Tina and Nell, Phillip C. and Pedersen, Torben, Combining Stocks and Flows of Knowledge: The Effects of Intra-Functional and Cross-Functional Complementarity (June 6, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2146610 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2146610

Tina Ambos (Contact Author)

Johannes Kepler University Linz ( email )

Linz
Austria

Phillip C. Nell

Vienna University of Economics and Business - Department of Global Business and Trade ( email )

Welthandelsplatz 1
Building D1
Vienna, 1020
Austria

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation ( email )

Kilevej 14
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://www.cbs.dk/

Torben Pedersen

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategic Management and Globalization ( email )

Porcelænshaven 24
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark
+45 3815 3030 (Phone)
+45 3815 3035 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.cbs.dk/staff/tp

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