IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/iburev/v32y2023i4s0969593123000379.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How does the negotiation between “me” and “we” in professional identity influence interpersonal horizontal knowledge sharing in multinational enterprises: A conceptual model

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Danni

Abstract

Professional identity is an identity that includes two aspects, the personal self (“me”) and the social self (“we”), which are in constant negotiation with each other. The interplay of these two aspects is important because it can shift identity-related motivation and behavior but has received relatively little attention in international business research to date. Recognizing identity dynamics can enrich our understanding of the motivations and behaviors of subsidiary employees in sharing knowledge with overseas colleagues. We develop a conceptual model to reveal the relationship between identity dynamics and interpersonal horizontal knowledge sharing in multinational enterprises. Specifically,- we propose that the different negotiation states between the personal self and the social self of professional identity are related to with whom an employee shares knowledge and what type of knowledge they share. Our article contributes to the knowledge sharing literature by uncovering the psychological mechanisms that influence the behavior of individuals in horizontal knowledge diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Danni, 2023. "How does the negotiation between “me” and “we” in professional identity influence interpersonal horizontal knowledge sharing in multinational enterprises: A conceptual model," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:32:y:2023:i:4:s0969593123000379
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102137
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969593123000379
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102137?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kane, Aimee A. & Argote, Linda & Levine, John M., 2005. "Knowledge transfer between groups via personnel rotation: Effects of social identity and knowledge quality," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 56-71, January.
    2. Dasí, Àngels & Pedersen, Torben & Gooderham, Paul N. & Elter, Frank & Hildrum, Jarle, 2017. "The effect of organizational separation on individuals’ knowledge sharing in MNCs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 431-446.
    3. Maravilhas, Sérgio & Martins, Joberto, 2019. "Strategic knowledge management a digital environment: Tacit and explicit knowledge in Fab Labs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 353-359.
    4. Jiacheng, Wei & Lu, Liu & Francesco, Calabrese A., 2010. "A cognitive model of intra-organizational knowledge-sharing motivations in the view of cross-culture," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 220-230.
    5. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Yamao, Sachiko, 2017. "Corporate language proficiency in reverse knowledge transfer: A moderated mediation model of shared vision and communication frequency," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 404-416.
    6. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1993. "Knowledge of the Firm and the Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 24(4), pages 625-645, December.
    7. Eisenberg, Julia & Mattarelli, Elisa, 2017. "Building Bridges in Global Virtual Teams: The Role of Multicultural Brokers in Overcoming the Negative Effects of Identity Threats on Knowledge Sharing Across Subgroups," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 399-411.
    8. Ambos, Tina C. & Ambos, Björn, 2009. "The impact of distance on knowledge transfer effectiveness in multinational corporations," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, March.
    9. Véronique Ambrosini & Cliff Bowman, 2001. "Tacit Knowledge: Some Suggestions for Operationalization," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(6), pages 811-829, September.
    10. John Cantwell, 2009. "Location and the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(1), pages 35-41, January.
    11. Ma, Danni & Fee, Anthony & Grabowski, Simone & Scerri, Moira, 2022. "Dual Organizational Identification in Multinational Enterprises and Interpersonal Horizontal Knowledge Sharing: A Conceptual Model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    12. Makela, Kristiina & Kalla, Hanna K. & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2007. "Interpersonal similarity as a driver of knowledge sharing within multinational corporations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, February.
    13. Mäkelä, Kristiina & Andersson, Ulf & Seppälä, Tomi, 2012. "Interpersonal similarity and knowledge sharing within multinational organizations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 439-451.
    14. Martine R. Haas & Morten T. Hansen, 2007. "Different knowledge, different benefits: toward a productivity perspective on knowledge sharing in organizations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(11), pages 1133-1153, November.
    15. Bastiaan Rosendaal & Katinka Bijlsma-Frankema, 2015. "Knowledge sharing within teams: enabling and constraining factors," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 235-247, August.
    16. Andrew D. Brown & Michael Humphreys, 2006. "Organizational Identity and Place: A Discursive Exploration of Hegemony and Resistance," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 231-257, March.
    17. Martin Schulz, 2003. "Pathways of Relevance: Exploring Inflows of Knowledge into Subunits of Multinational Corporations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 440-459, August.
    18. Pamela J. Hinds & Mark Mortensen, 2005. "Understanding Conflict in Geographically Distributed Teams: The Moderating Effects of Shared Identity, Shared Context, and Spontaneous Communication," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 290-307, June.
    19. Shad S Morris & Bijuan Zhong & Mona Makhija, 2015. "Going the distance: The pros and cons of expanding employees’ global knowledge reach," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(5), pages 552-573, June.
    20. Phookan, Himadree & Sharma, Revti Raman, 2021. "Subsidiary power, cultural intelligence and interpersonal knowledge transfer between subsidiaries within the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    21. Ikujiro Nonaka, 1994. "A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 14-37, February.
    22. Tagliaventi, Maria Rita & Bertolotti, Fabiola & Macrì, Diego Maria, 2010. "A perspective on practice in interunit knowledge sharing," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 331-345, October.
    23. Mark Mortensen & Martine R. Haas, 2018. "Perspective—Rethinking Teams: From Bounded Membership to Dynamic Participation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 341-355, April.
    24. Mohan Subramaniam & N. Venkatraman, 2001. "Determinants of transnational new product development capability: testing the influence of transferring and deploying tacit overseas knowledge," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(4), pages 359-378, April.
    25. Sharon F. Matusik & Markus A. Fitza, 2012. "Diversification in the venture capital industry: leveraging knowledge under uncertainty," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 407-426, April.
    26. Yu, Yan & Hao, Jin-Xing & Dong, Xiao-Ying & Khalifa, Mohamed, 2013. "A multilevel model for effects of social capital and knowledge sharing in knowledge-intensive work teams," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 780-790.
    27. Donald E. Gibson, 2003. "Developing the Professional Self-Concept: Role Model Construals in Early, Middle, and Late Career Stages," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(5), pages 591-610, October.
    28. Snejina Michailova & Kate Hutchings, 2006. "National Cultural Influences on Knowledge Sharing: A Comparison of China and Russia," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 383-405, May.
    29. Crespo, Cátia Fernandes & Lages, Luis Filipe & Crespo, Nuno Fernandes, 2020. "Improving subsidiaries' innovation through knowledge inflows from headquarters and peer subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    30. B Sebastian Reiche & Anne-Wil Harzing & Markus Pudelko, 2015. "Why and how does shared language affect subsidiary knowledge inflows? A social identity perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(5), pages 528-551, June.
    31. Pandey, Jatin & Gupta, Manish & Behl, Abhishek & Pereira, Vijay & Budhwar, Pawan & Varma, Arup & Hassan, Yusuf & Kukreja, Priyam, 2021. "Technology-enabled knowledge management for community healthcare workers: The effects of knowledge sharing and knowledge hiding," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 787-799.
    32. Roland K Yeo & Michael J Marquardt, 2015. "To share or not to share? Self-perception and knowledge-sharing intent," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 311-328, August.
    33. Aimée A. Kane, 2010. "Unlocking Knowledge Transfer Potential: Knowledge Demonstrability and Superordinate Social Identity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(3), pages 643-660, June.
    34. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2019. "Microfoundations in international management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1594-1621, December.
    35. Lauring, Jakob & Selmer, Jan, 2012. "International language management and diversity climate in multicultural organizations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 156-166.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yaoyao Guo & Dongphil Chun & Feng Yin & Yaying Zhou, 2023. "Exploring Motivations and Trust Mechanisms in Knowledge Sharing: The Moderating Role of Social Alienation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-22, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Danni & Fee, Anthony & Grabowski, Simone & Scerri, Moira, 2022. "Dual Organizational Identification in Multinational Enterprises and Interpersonal Horizontal Knowledge Sharing: A Conceptual Model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    2. Phookan, Himadree & Sharma, Revti Raman, 2021. "Subsidiary power, cultural intelligence and interpersonal knowledge transfer between subsidiaries within the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    3. Fortwengel, Johann & Gutierrez Huerter O, Gabriela & Kostova, Tatiana, 2023. "Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(3).
    4. Nicolai J. Foss & Torben Pedersen, 2019. "Microfoundations in international management research: The case of knowledge sharing in multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1594-1621, December.
    5. Tippmann, Esther & Sharkey Scott, Pamela & Mangematin, Vincent, 2014. "Subsidiary managers’ knowledge mobilizations: Unpacking emergent knowledge flows," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 431-443.
    6. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Vincent Mangematin, 2014. "Subsidiary managers’ knowledge mobilizations: Unpacking emergent knowledge flows," Post-Print hal-00864324, HAL.
    7. Zeng, Rong & Grøgaard, Birgitte & Steel, Piers, 2018. "Complements or substitutes? A meta-analysis of the role of integration mechanisms for knowledge transfer in the MNE network," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 415-432.
    8. repec:hal:gemwpa:hal-00864324 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Castellani, Davide & Perri, Alessandra & Scalera, Vittoria G., 2022. "Knowledge integration in multinational enterprises: The role of inventors crossing national and organizational boundaries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    10. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    11. Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh & Robson, Matthew J. & Zaefarian, Ghasem & Andersson, Ulf & Yu, Chong, 2018. "Building subsidiary local responsiveness: (When) does the directionality of intrafirm knowledge transfers matter?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 475-492.
    12. Burmeister, Anne & Lazarova, Mila B. & Deller, Jürgen, 2018. "Repatriate knowledge transfer: Antecedents and boundary conditions of a dyadic process," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 806-816.
    13. Helene Tenzer & Siri Terjesen & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2017. "Language in International Business: A Review and Agenda for Future Research," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 815-854, December.
    14. Eunkwang Seo & Hyo Kang & Jaeyong Song, 2020. "Blending talents for innovation: Team composition for cross-border R&D collaboration within multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(5), pages 851-885, July.
    15. Gabriel Szulanski & Dimo Ringov & Robert J. Jensen, 2016. "Overcoming Stickiness: How the Timing of Knowledge Transfer Methods Affects Transfer Difficulty," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 304-322, April.
    16. Fascia, Michael, 2019. "Knowledge transfer structures," OSF Preprints x394t, Center for Open Science.
    17. Davina Vora & Lee Martin & Stacey R. Fitzsimmons & Andre A. Pekerti & C. Lakshman & Salma Raheem, 2019. "Multiculturalism within individuals: A review, critique, and agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 499-524, June.
    18. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    19. Eunkwang Seo & Hyo Kang & Jaeyong Song, 0. "Blending talents for innovation: Team composition for cross-border R&D collaboration within multinational corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-35.
    20. Fascia, Michael & sanderson, mike & tan, hock, 2019. "Assessing the basics of knowledge transfer structures," OSF Preprints myexu, Center for Open Science.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:32:y:2023:i:4:s0969593123000379. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/133/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.